Celebrating IWD2017

As we join hands to celebrate WOMEN on this International Women’s Day titled Be ‘Bold For Change‘, we look at the theme as helping to forge a better working world – a more inclusive, gender equal world.

All my life, I have been surrounded by strong women making a difference in society. My grandmother was the first female president of her town’s village society (Amaigbo Town Union – ATU), my mother was one of the first female staff members to be sent to the UK to set up the Nigeria Airways office in London. I look around and acknowledge strong women all over the world for their amazing resilience in the face of adversity, their strength and courage and much more.

International Women’s Day means different things to different people. For some it’s a celebration, for others it’s a call-to-action to accelerate gender parity, and for many, it’s an opportunity to align and promote relevant activity. Whatever your objective, International Women’s Day is the perfect moment for gender-focused action.

Every person – women, men and non-binary people – can play a part in helping drive better outcomes for women. Through meaningful celebration and targeted bold action, we can all be responsive and responsible leaders in creating a more gender inclusive world. So around the world, International Women’s Day provides an important opportunity for groundbreaking action that can truly drive greater change for women.

Each one of us – with women, men and non-binary people joining forces – can be a leader within our own spheres of influence by taking bold pragmatic action to accelerate gender parity. Through purposeful collaboration, we can help women advance and unleash the limitless potential offered to economies the world over.

As derived from International Women’s Day, which area will you take bold action in? Click the down arrows to be inspired by examples of bold actions.

I’ll challenge bias and inequality

• query all-male speaking panels
• pull people up on exclusive language
• challenge stereotypes
• call it out when women are excluded
• monitor the gender pay gap
• point out bias and highlight alternatives
• call for diverse candidate shortlists
• embrace inclusive leadership
• redefine the status quo

I’ll campaign against violence

• educate youth about positive relationships
• challenge those who justify perpetrators and blame victims
• donate to groups fighting abuse
• speak out against the silence of violence
• be vigilant and report violence
• campaign for the prevention of violence
• abstain from all violence, physical and otherwise
• volunteer your help at a local charity
• recognize coercive control and redress it

I’ll forge women’s advancement

• decide to buy from companies that support women
• choose to work for a progressive employer for women
• support or back a woman-owned business
• take a junior female colleague to a major meeting or event
• build conducive, flexible work environments
• appoint a woman to the board
• mentor a woman and sponsor her goals
• invite women into situations where they’re not already present or contributing
• measure and report on gender parity gaps and keep gender on the agenda
• create new opportunities for women

I’ll celebrate women’s achievement

• raise women’s visibility as spokespeople in the media
• drive fairer recognition and credit for women’s contributions
• launch even more awards showcasing women’s success
• hail the success of women leaders
• applaud social, economic, cultural and
  political women role models
• celebrate women’s journeys and the barriers overcome
• reinforce and support women’s triumphs

I’ll champion women’s education

• launch or fund a women-focused scholarship
• encourage more girls into STEM education and careers
• value diversity for greater educational outcomes
• support women inventors of new products and services
• celebrate women researchers discovering new knowledge
• learn to code

Will you #BeBoldForChange?

Happy International Women’s Day again to all the Women of Strength!

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Yours in love – The Renaissance Lady © – Follow my blog with Bloglovin