Sarah + Laura: What We love Wednesdays: International Women's Day

What we Love Wednesdays is being brought back for today. If you have followed us since the start you'll know that we used to do a weekly segment on stuff we loved from Diet Coke and Nando's to Strong Women. As life got busier the segment stopped but as International Women's Day falls on a Wednesday this year it makes sense that we combine the two.

I woke up today and scrolled through my social media and as always on this day there is a mix of pro-women posts. It's nice to see. However i'm also not entirely sure that the sole point of women's day is to big up women. It is absolutely part of it but International Women's Day is/has historically been about highlighting the plight of women.

International Women's Day commemorates the struggle for women's rights. That struggle continues today.

In fact this lady says it best;

"The story of women's struggle for equality belongs to no single feminist nor to any one organization but to the collective efforts of all who care about human rights," says world-renowned feminist, journalist and social and political activist Gloria Steinem. Thus International Women's Day is all about unity, celebration, reflection, advocacy and action - whatever that looks like globally at a local level. But one thing is for sure, International Women's Day has been occurring for well over a century - and continue's to grow from strength to strength.

If you want to read the history of International Women's Day check out the website here.

In our world that is about addressing the pay gap, in the third world that is about women having the right to an education or to work. The struggle today has moved on for some of us but it is not over.

In the last week this Polish MEP has been in the news for stating women should earn less and while the media has reacted in horror the truth is we do earn less. We may not earn less for the reasons he states but we earn less and that is because historically that has been seen as fair.

So yes it is important to march, to post on social media and to highlight International Women's Day. While celebrating women's strength, courage, drive, successes, inspiration and abilities lets also call attention to the fact that as women we collectively need to ensure in our homes, in our work places and in our communities we are seen as equal. That is the battle that is still not over.

You only need to look at the current White House to see what a group of men can do to the world. It's not good.While Canada boasts a 50/50 split in the highest positions almost every photo of Trump has him surrounded by white men and progress has halted making America a concern rather than a leading nation.

In America they are having a 'day without women' and those who can't take time out of work are wearing red in support. The point is for women to come together to show the difference we make.
Q: What is the goal of A Day Without a Woman?
A: The goal is to highlight the economic power and significance that women have in the US and global economies, while calling attention to the economic injustices women and gender nonconforming people continue to face. We play an indispensable role in the daily functions of life in all of society, through paid & unpaid, seen & unseen labor.

The whole article can be found at: https://www.womensmarch.com/march-8th-faq/

The Hidden Figures film (if you haven't see it - do) also went a long way to uncovering how the successes of women are often overlooked. When you think of the Space Race you think of the astronauts you don't think of the men and women who did the work to get them to space. In fact you may have thought only of the men because when I think of NASA I think of men. It was never highlighted that the leading mathematician who solved the most important equation was a woman,

In fact when I think of most firsts or greatest moments, for elite sports, for esteemed people I think of men.

In 2012 women overtook men's IQ scores for the first time ever and women leaders are becoming more common so times are changing. That is why it is important that as women we don't give up now. I mean look how close Hillary got but where is the next women president candidate?! Not because I think it should be a woman but because I think women should be competing.

This morning work day started with a Skype group started by one of my team members stating what International Women's Day means to her and why she was proud to work with such wonderful women. As the day has continued other ladies I work with have contributed their thoughts. It is a wonderful reminder that women can really be each others greatest support. In my company our board of directors is split 50/50 men and women and I believe it is part of the reason for our success. Laura's company is led by a woman - you could say in our world women rule. And that makes me proud. It also gives me hope.