International Women’s Day 2023
International Women’s Day (IWD) is a global holiday that is celebrated annually on March 8th. The holiday commemorates the social, cultural, economic, and political achievements of women throughout history, and serves as a call to action for gender equality. This year’s IWD theme, Embrace Equity or #EmbraceEquity, is focused on encouraging the world to understand the difference between equality and equity, and to take equitable action towards creating a gender-equal world that is free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination.
International Women’s Day first emerged from the activities of labour movements at the turn of the twentieth century across North America and Europe. It was not until 1975, however, that the UN officially recognized IWD, marking it as an official UN holiday for women’s rights and world peace. Since then, the holiday has become an important opportunity to reflect on the progress made towards gender equality, as well as the work that still needs to be done to achieve a more equitable world. Check out A brief history of International Women’s Day for more details.
This year’s IWD theme, Embrace Equity, focuses on the critical difference between equity and equality. While “equality means each individual or group of people is given the same resources or opportunities,” equity recognizes that each person has different circumstances and allocates the exact resources and opportunities needed to reach an equal outcome. The aim of the #EmbraceEquity campaign is to get the world talking about why equal opportunities aren’t enough, and to encourage people to take equitable action towards creating a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive world.
The importance of gender equity cannot be overstated. The gender gap in the United States and around the world remains significant, with women continuing to face discrimination and bias in a wide range of areas, including education, healthcare, employment, and politics. According to the World Economic Forum, it will take another 135.6 years to close the gender gap completely. This means that women and girls around the world are still facing significant barriers to achieving their full potential, despite the progress that has been made in recent years.
To truly embrace equity, it is critical that we take action to address these barriers and work towards creating a more inclusive and equitable world for all. This can be achieved by challenging gender stereotypes, calling out discrimination, and advocating for policies that promote gender equality. It is also important to celebrate the achievements of women in all fields, from science and technology to art and literature, and to recognize the critical role that women have played in shaping history and society.
While there is still a long way to go towards achieving gender equity, events like International Women’s Day serve as an important reminder of the progress that has been made and the work that still needs to be done. By coming together to embrace equity and advocate for gender equality, we can create a more just and equitable world for all.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: When is International Women’s Day 2023?
International Women’s Day 2023 is on Wednesday, March 8th.
Q2: What is the theme for International Women’s Day 2023?
The theme for IWD 2023 is “DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality.” This theme was selected by UN Women because it is connected to the theme of the 67th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), which will take place between March 6th and March 18th.
Q3: Why is International Women’s Day celebrated?
International Women’s Day is celebrated to recognize the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women and to call for gender equality.
Q4: How can I participate in International Women’s Day 2023?
You can participate in IWD 2023 by attending events, supporting women-led initiatives, sharing messages of support on social media, or taking action to advance gender equality.
Q5: What is the history of International Women’s Day?
International Women’s Day has been celebrated since the early 1900s to advocate for women’s rights and promote gender equality. It was officially recognized by the United Nations in 1975.
Published by: Gangtokian Web Team