#EmbraceEquity IWD 2023
“I am grateful to be a woman. I must have done something great in another life.”
-Maya Angelou-
I am grateful to be a woman. Grateful to live where I do and have the freedom and opportunities that I do. Grateful to embrace my own unique sense of womanhood and femininity, defined, not by others or culture, but my own heart.
Today is International Women’s Day 2023. When I went to my meditation app, Insight Timer, this morning, I was greeted by Maya Angelou’s words. I took a break from the course I am doing and listened to a meditation on the Divine Feminine. I choose to devote today’s post to IWD. I wasn’t familiar with this day until a couple of years ago. I wrote this on my previous blog, Habitual Gratitude, on March 8, 2021:
International Women's Day (March 8) is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating women's equality.
IWD has occurred for well over a century, with the first IWD gathering in 1911 supported by over a million people. Today, IWD belongs to all groups collectively everywhere. IWD is not country, group or organization specific.
It is also Women's History Month in the United States. We probably hear less about IWD than some countries around the world, but it is more than worth a mention. It is worth some action. Yes, women's history should always be noted and celebrated, but we aren't yet on an even playing field with men in many areas. There is work to be done, and getting the word out is helpful.
This year’s theme is #Embrace Equity, summarized here. Read more here.
For International Women's Day and beyond, let's all fully #EmbraceEquity.
Equity isn't just a nice-to-have, it's a must-have.
A focus on gender equity needs to be part of every society's DNA.
And it's critical to understand the difference between equity and equality.
The aim of the IWD 2023 #EmbraceEquity campaign theme is to get the world talking about why equal opportunities aren't enough. People start from different places, so true inclusion and belonging require equitable action.
Watch this brief video clip to hear from Tamara Makoni:
Key to the theme and discussion this year is “Equality versus Equity: What's the difference as we #EmbraceEquity for IWD 2023 and beyond?”
Equity can be defined as giving everyone what they need to be successful. In other words, it's not giving everyone the exact same thing. If we give everyone the exact same thing, expecting that will make people equal, it assumes that everyone started out in the same place - and this can be vastly inaccurate because everyone isn't the same.
The goal of equity is to change systemic and structural barriers that get in the way of people's ability to thrive.
There is excellent information and visuals provided on the IWD website that can help us each understand equity better, and also understand why it is not the same as equality. If we get hung up on things being equal we lose sight of the more necessary work of things being equitable and we waste energy and time.
Lastly, I was surprised but pleased to see John Deere as a key partner in this day:
The world is counting on John Deere to feed billions of people and build vital infrastructure in villages, towns, and megacities. Embracing a culture that celebrates diversity, champions equity, and promotes inclusiveness is vital for John Deere to innovate on behalf of its customers and humanity so life can leap forward.
Consider reading or watching more about IWD. If you post on social media, use #EmbraceEquity today and share some of your thoughts or your image of embracing equity. Speak up. Speak out. Do something. Even if it is simply a pause to pray or send good energy out into the world, it matters. You matter. We all matter.
