Although the history of International Women’s Day (IWD) can be traced to the early 1900s when it was celebrated in many European countries, it wasn’t until 1975 that the United Nations began marking the day and 1977 when the UN invited its member nations to mark the day officially on March 8. At the time, it was proclaimed a day for women’s rights and world peace. Today, March 8 is recognized as a day to celebrate the achievements and contributions of women and as a call to action for the global community to take steps towards greater gender equality.
Each year, a theme is declared for IWD. The 2020 theme was #EachforEqual. This year, the International Women’s Day theme for 2021 is #ChoosetoChallenge.
What does that mean? As the IWD website states, #ChoosetoChallenge is about choosing to create an inclusive world by calling out gender bias and inequality.
International Women’s Day 2021: A Call for Inclusivity
International Women’s Day has long been focused on equality for all and has welcomed all genders and gender identities to take part in recognizing the day. This year’s theme is an exciting one because of the message about how challenging the status quo can result in change for the better. Although it is about recognizing women, the call to action is for everyone to recognize the role we all play in challenging inequality where we see it.
Why Gender Equality Matters for Business
The concept of cognitive diversity refers to a group of people with different ways of thinking. These different perspectives come from having different backgrounds and different life experiences. When organizations have cognitive diversity, they will naturally see more creativity, ingenuity and innovation, as well as stronger problem-solving abilities as teams approach challenges with the ability to see them from multiple perspectives, and the ability to see multiple solutions.
Gender diversity is one way of building cognitive diversity and the proof of its value is in the numbers. A 2004 Catalyst study that spanned multiple industries and organizations found that companies with the highest representation of women in upper management experienced return on equity (ROE) of about 35% higher than their peers and total return to shareholders (TRS) of 34% higher. In 2015, a Harvard Business Review study found that companies measuring highest in diversity experienced 19% higher revenue from innovation (defined as “the freshness of their revenue mix”). Rounding that out is a 2015 report from McKinsey that found companies with higher gender diversity are 15% more likely to have higher revenues than their industry average.
The advantage is down to organizations actively encouraging true diversity. It’s not just about headcount, but about acceptance of, and enthusiasm for, different ways of thinking. When organizations embrace difference, they embrace possibility. They become more agile, creative, innovative and more open to adapting to changes in the market.
Read more about diversity in the workplace in Adecco’s Lead Magazine.
Make the Day Matter
The 2021 date for International Women’s Day is March 8, which puts it at a unique time in the year. For organizations, most fiscal years start in January and many start the new year with goal setting and action plans. For individuals, the New Year is a time for resolutions and fresh starts. In January, there’s a lot of motivation to get moving. What happens by March? In many cases, that initial motivation is waning, even for the best of us. It’s normal. The weather is dreary, resolutions have fallen through, the holidays are long gone and summer is still far off. People need something to get fired up about again.
With its message of inclusivity, IWD is an opportunity to breathe life back into the year. The 4 initiatives below will help you make the day matter for you and/or your organization. Although they’re generally meant for organizations, if you’re an employee or job seeker, you can modify these initiatives to start taking action on your own.
1. Demo Day
This is an idea taken from the startup and venture capital world. Typically, it’s a day for multiple founders to pitch their big ideas to investors. Many companies in the tech industry have adopted demo days internally as an opportunity for employees to present their own ideas for the company. Employees can work on any project across any department, on their own or in teams. At the end of the day (or demo period), they pitch their idea, sometimes with a working prototype or even a PowerPoint presentation.
As IWD is about celebrating contributions and individualism, mark the day by letting your employees blow you away. Set aside a day or 2 for employees to work on anything they want, then 1 full day for them to present their ideas to the whole company. Many companies who do this come away with incredibly innovative projects to start working on or improvements to be made. Best of all, because the projects span departments and teams, you get ideas you never otherwise would have heard.
As an employee or job seeker, consider giving yourself a weekend to work on something that excites you, even if it’s outside your typical sphere. Then pitch it to your employer or a company you would love to work for. This is a day to celebrate your individuality. Be fearless.
2. Charitable Ventures
There are many organizations across Canada that support and encourage equality. Get your team involved in making a difference in a way that’s fun and energizing. For example, you can organize teams for a gameshow-style showdown or physical or mental challenge – and don’t be discouraged if you have to go virtual, as there are many virtual team-building tools available to help you engage your team. Each team plays for a charity or nonprofit of their choice. The winning team gets a donation to their charity of choice!
You can let people choose their organization or provide a list for them to choose from. Some organizations you might want to select include Girls Action Foundation, 60 million girls, the Canadian Federation of University Women, Equal Voice, the Institute for the Advancement of Aboriginal Women or the Adecco Group’s global charity partner Plan International. You can also opt to support local shelters or women’s groups, or even organizations that work globally to uplift all people, not just women.
As an individual, consider approaching your employer with the organization of your choice and a plan for raising funds, volunteering time or otherwise supporting the organization. If you’re a job seeker and have time to spare, look into virtual volunteer opportunities with local charities that would both make a positive impact in the world and strengthen your resume.
3. Pay Attention to Your Contribution
As a man, do you really listen when your female colleagues voice their opinions or ideas? Do you actively seek out their advice or perspective? Do you collaborate with women on projects or nominate them for recognition?
A great deal of workplace discrimination is unintentional. You’re not actively shutting women out, but out of habit you look to male colleagues first. The way to change that habit is the same way you change any habit: by intentionally altering your choices and behaviour, again and again, until the new habit is ingrained. Of course, your new habit isn’t necessarily to prioritize women over men, but to prioritize expertise, perspective, collaboration and inclusivity. It’s to allow space for all voices to be heard respectfully.
As a woman, think about your greatest strengths and areas of expertise and how you can bring them forward more strongly. If you’re already doing this, are there other women in your organization, network, family or friends group whom you can support, encourage or empower?
4. Invite Women Speakers
You may consider inviting women speakers to speak about women in the workplace, women around the world, women’s contributions, etc. However, you may also invite a powerful or highly accomplished woman in your industry to give a talk, or a female coach or motivational speaker to organize a virtual workshop with your employees.
Achieving equality means being open to hearing about the issues, but it also means opening yourself up to the contributions and value of all people.
As an individual, look into speaking events, conferences or workshops where women will be speaking or hosting. Sign up on your own or organize colleagues, friends or others in your network to collectively attend. It’s up to each of us to open our own minds to different perspectives. Every time you open your mind, you grow. Always be open to growth.
Everyone has a role in gender equality, and we all benefit when we take an active role. On March 8, make a conscious choice to be part of a better future for everyone.