What is International Women’s Day about?
International Women’s Day puts the spotlight on issues affecting women globally. Human rights for women is a discourse that is extremely relevant in todays modern age. Women’s rights are still at the mercy of a larger society following the shockwaves of historic legislation. Inequality of gender continues to be a large reality for so many people, and intersectionality includes women of color and exacerbates how these issues can impact them.
Why is This Day Important?
Reflecting on the low pay and substandard working conditions that motivated women workers to unionize and go on strike. This was what catalysed the events that lead to the creation of the International Women’s Day in 1975 when the United Nations declared it so. Since then every year women from all over the world have come together to celebrate and uplift each others achievements and look to inspirational women who continue to break boundaries.
Professor and Vice-Chancellor Irene Tracey
One of these such inspirations is Oxford’s very own Professor Irene Tracey who was installed as the Vice Chancellor of the University of Oxford. St. Thomas More R.C. Primary School and Gosford Hill School in Kidlington were where Tracey received her education after being born at the Radcliffe Infirmary in Oxford. She earned a biochemistry degree from Merton College in Oxford after completing her undergraduate and graduate studies there. From a child Irene has always been bright and highly ambitious, this shined through her work and hobbies.
Ways to Celebrate International Women’s Day
- Show appreciation to women in your life . In parts of the world, International Women’s Day is marked by sharing small gifts or flowers with women. These small gestures of caring often mean the most to me, partly because they remind me that I am not alone, and they help me to keep going. Let a woman you know know you care. Make her feel appreciated by sending a short note. You could buy her a cup of coffee, a chocolate bar, or a bouquet of flowers. Please let her know how grateful you are to have her work and presence in the world. As a woman in general, it is also important to take care of yourself today however feels meaningful to you.
- Share your story Women often struggle to perceive themselves as leaders and influencers, since we have so few role models showing us a path we could follow. As the old adage goes, “You can’t be what you can’t see.” Share your story if you’re a woman in a field you may know is under respresented by women. What lead you to this career? What difficulties have you encountered, and how did you get over them? What would you have liked to know when you first started out? What about the future excites you? Consider sharing your platform with women if you are a guy with influence, or dedicate some of your social media postings to honouring women’s history month. Maybe you could ask women in your industry to write guest blogs for your website, or maybe you could feature many powerful women. Tell us about the females who have inspired your work. Look for methods to really support the work of women.
