International Women's Day 2024  #Inspire Inclusion

Introduction:

As we celebrate International Women's Day in 2024, the campaign theme 'Inspire Inclusion' takes centre stage. This powerful theme emphasises the need for a world where every woman, regardless of her background, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status, feels included and empowered.

In this article, we'll explore the significance of International Women's Day, delve into the 'Inspire Inclusion' campaign theme, and discuss ways in which we can collectively work towards a more inclusive world for all women.

International Women's Day: Overview

International Women's Day, celebrated annually on March 8th, is a global occasion that recognises the achievements and contributions of women throughout history. It is a day to raise awareness about gender equality, advocate for women's rights, and highlight the challenges women face worldwide. The day serves as a reminder to continue pushing for progress and gender parity, fostering an environment where women can thrive and achieve their full potential.

Inspire Inclusion: The 2024 Campaign Theme

The theme 'Inspire Inclusion' aligns with the ongoing efforts to create a more equitable and inclusive world for women. Inclusion is not just about gender; it encompasses all aspects of diversity, such as race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic status. By focusing on inspiring inclusion, the International Women's Day 2024 campaign aims to break down barriers and create a society where every woman feels valued, respected, and included.

Key Objectives of 'Inspire Inclusion'

Celebrating Diversity: The campaign encourages the celebration of diverse experiences, perspectives, and achievements of women around the world. By recognising and appreciating our differences, we can foster a more inclusive society.

Empowering Marginalised Voices: 'Inspire Inclusion' emphasises the importance of amplifying the voices of women who are often marginalised or underrepresented. Through inclusivity, we can create a platform for all women to share their stories and contribute to meaningful discussions.

Challenging Stereotypes: The campaign challenges harmful stereotypes that perpetuate inequality. By promoting accurate and positive representations of women from all walks of life, we can break down preconceived notions and foster a more inclusive mindset.

Fostering Collaborative Solutions: Inclusion is a collective effort. The campaign encourages collaboration among individuals, communities, and organisations to work towards creating a world where all women have equal opportunities and access to resources.

How You Can Contribute

Educate Yourself: Take the time to educate yourself about the experiences and challenges faced by women from different backgrounds. This knowledge will empower you to advocate for inclusivity.

Amplify Voices: Use your platform to amplify the voices of women who are often unheard. Share their stories, perspectives, and achievements to contribute to a more inclusive narrative.

Challenge Biases: Actively challenge your own biases and those of others. Be open to learning and unlearning, and encourage conversations that promote understanding and inclusivity.

Support Inclusive Initiatives: Support organisations and initiatives that actively work towards creating a more inclusive world for women. Whether through volunteering, donations, or advocacy, your support can make a significant impact.

Charmaine Gregory - Central Services and Transformation Director

"Being Executive Sponsor of the Gender Employee Led Network is hugely important to me, as I am passionate about creating a more equitable and inclusive workplace for all Genders. I firmly believe that everyone deserves to feel valued and respected, regardless of their gender identity or expression.

As a female leader, I have seen the challenges that are faced to progress and work in new industries and new roles, and I am passionate about progressive change in this area.

The Gender Employee Led Network is a platform for advocating for gender equality in the workplace. Working to create a more inclusive culture, promote diversity and inclusion initiatives, and support the career development of women and other underrepresented genders.

As Executive Sponsors of this Network, I can support in making a real difference in the lives of our colleagues. I am committed to using my position and experiences to create a more equitable and inclusive workplace for everyone.

Here are some specific things that I  am doing as the Executive Chair of the GEN:

• Advocate for gender-neutral policies and practices.
• Promote unconscious bias training and other diversity and inclusion initiatives.
• Support the career development of women and other underrepresented genders by providing mentorship and networking opportunities.
• Create a safe and supportive space for employees to discuss their experiences with gender discrimination and harassment.
• Work with the Senior leadership to ensure that gender equality is a priority".

Shelly Millard (Chair of Gender Employee Led Network)

“As a gender network and community we are really pleased for the theme for 2024 to be ‘inspire Inclusion’ one of our driving factors is driving equality into all roles within our business.

We are new to this journey, and we hope the momentum continues in 2024 and beyond”

Conclusion:

As we celebrate International Women's Day 2024 under the theme 'Inspire Inclusion,' let us reflect on the progress made and the work that lies ahead. By embracing diversity, amplifying marginalised voices, challenging stereotypes, and fostering collaboration, we can contribute to building a world where every woman is included and empowered. Together, let's inspire inclusion and pave the way for a brighter, more equitable future for all.

To commemorate this special event, we've produced a short video, exploring Workplace Equality: Our experiment with 13 participants tackling a shared riddle reveals surprising reactions. 

Uncover the answer in the video!