International Women’s Day
8th March is International Women’s Day. It is an opportunity to celebrate women’s achievements. Organisers are focusing on equity this year.
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The IWD 2023 campaign asks questions such as, “Why equal isn’t always fair.” Equity aims to compensate for disadvantages. I can highlight my own experiences in my professional life. Then I will share how we can reduce disadvantages as consumers.
In the employed world, one may assume we are stuck in the era of the 9-5 film. A manager recently asked me if I had a partner, a child and a rental. I don’t know if blokes get those questions in a professional setting. But as a woman, I knew to avoid directly answering the topic. There are stereotypes. Do business leaders wonder if mothers have enough time to do a job? Even if there is a juggle, fathers are responsible for the home too. And surely anyone would figure out a suitable schedule when deciding to work for other people. Long story short, the world has to move past the bias that targets women who serve their families.
A professional is just as capable after being a stay-at-home parent. Experts have as much wisdom to contribute even when they need to work remotely when a child catches a bug. Opinionated leaders need to be heard even when a young one happily makes noise in the background.
When opportunities are skewed in the short term, we can be conscious about our personal choices to make some improvements. You can’t control what others will do, but you can control your own actions.
As consumers, women can be empowered to reduce their disadvantages. Disposable period products are a significant cost for individuals around the world. Last year, some estimates reached beyond $USD400 per year. There is also an accessibility issue. Reusable menstrual products improve women’s budgets because initial costs become lower in the long term. Women can use cloth pads (from organic or repurposed materials), safe silicone menstrual cups or period underwear.
Women can find some equity as consumers, reducing the cost of living. Image: iStock, edited.
Consumers of all genders can support businesses that women own. This could be on a small local scale when visiting craft markets. It can also grow to a larger scale when buying products and services from businesses that grew thanks to female entrepreneurs.
This is only the tip of the iceberg for equity. Women need a fairer cost of living and more opportunities. Society must value the capabilities of parents too. We have a long way to go. What can you do to support women in the world?
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