In this special edition blog post we will be talking about International Women's Day! So, follow along to learn more!
What is International Women’s Day?
International Women's Day is holiday, observed globally, that commemorates the social, political, economic, and cultural achievements of women everywhere! Each year, on March 8th, folks come together to celebrate the progress we have made, educate others on the significance of gender equality, and fundraise for female-focused charities.
The Progression of Women's Rights
All throughout history women have been viewed as lesser than men in various aspects of life. With that being said, from the start of the women's rights movement and into today we have seen significant strides in the direction of gender equality.
Women suffragettes like Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Staton both popularized and mobilized the women's rights movement. They founded the National Woman Suffrage Association that advocated for women's right to vote which was not granted until 1920.
In 1963 President John F. Kennedy passed the Equal Pay Act, which made gender-based wage discrimination illegal. In 1964 President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act, which banned discrimination based on race, religion, national origin or gender in the workplace. In 2007 Nancy Pelosi became the first female speaker of the House. In 2013 the U.S. military removed a ban against women serving in combat positions. In 2016 Hillary Clinton became the first woman to be the presidential nominee for a major political party in the U.S. In 2021 Kamala Harris was sworn in as the first female vice president of the United States.
Although tons of progress has been made over the last several decades, there is still much more progress to be made. Nationally, women continue to make $0.81 for every $1.00 a man does. Globally, only 24.9% of parliamentarians are women. Not to mention, one and three women are a victim of gender-based violence in their lifetime.
The inequalities prevalent today do not invalidate the remarkable achievements of women and women's rights activists from our past and in our present, but it should remind us of all the work that is left. On this International Women's Day take a moment to celebrate the progression we have seen, but then formulate a plan to how we can all work to build a more inclusive and equal world.
The Importance of International Women's Day
International Women's Day works to highlight the importance of women's rights and gender equality. It is meant remind folks to consistently consider the gender stereotypes, biases, and action assumptions they may have.
International Women's Day is an excellent opportunity for schools, workplaces, and communities to cultivate conversation and foster an equal and equitable environment for everyone.
Additionally, this day gives much needed recognition to all of the everyday women who have fought for gender equality throughout history and into today.
International Women's Day and COVID-19
Women have played an essential role in the betterment of society. Women have discovered breakthroughs in science, built successful businesses, and lead nations all over the world. With that being said, women also make up 70% of all healthcare and social workers in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, but are disproportionately effected by the current times.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that women-dominated industries have been most severely affected by COVID-19. It is estimated that 5.4 million women have lost their jobs in the past year.
Women’s work has been historically undervalued, according to the State of Women Owned Businesses report, it is estimated that “American women started an average of 1,817 new businesses per day between 2018 and 2019.”
However, since the Pandemic, The U.S. Chamber of Commerce disclosed that the number of business owners, who are women, ranked their business' overall health as "somewhat or very good" fell 13 points. These unprecedented times have resulted in job losses and economic strain for women but, we are still optimistic that the UN's goal to achieve gender equality by 2030 is still possible.
CAFYIR and International Women's Day
CAFYIR is committed to fostering an equal and equitable environment for everyone. As a woman run, and dominated, organization we ensure that all of our students are provided with a safe space to speak up, ask questions, and be, undeniably, themselves! CAFYIR works to provide the most relevant and educational information possible to our followers, readers, and students in an age appropriate and engaging way. We strongly believe that the key to a more inclusive future is through conversation and action!
From the CAFYIR family to you, Happy International Women's Day!
Conclusion and Contact Us
Thank you for reading this week's blog. We hope you enjoyed! Check back next week for a new post. In the meantime connect with us on social media:
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Sources
THE 2019 STATE OF WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESSES REPORT. s1.q4cdn.com/692158879/files/doc_library/file/2019-state-of-women-owned-businesses-report.pdf.
“2021 International Women's Day Student Summit.” Envoys, 17 Feb. 2021, envoys.com/iwdsummit21/.
“Gender Pay Gap Statistics for 2020.” PayScale, www.payscale.com/data/gender-pay-gap.
History.com Editors. “Women's History Milestones: A Timeline.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 26 Feb. 2019, www.history.com/topics/womens-history/womens-history-us-timeline.
“International Women's Day 2021 Theme: Choose to Challenge.” International Women's Day, www.internationalwomensday.com/.
“International Women's Day 2021.” UN Women, www.unwomen.org/en/news/in-focus/international-womens-day?gclid=Cj0KCQiAs5eCBhCBARIsAEhk4r6-52U2zDlXU2Weh7COnSPzu1zncUWhqP_-0rNkeDJ8s3pYNYdHOOYaApKVEALw_wcB.
“National Women's Law Center: Justice for Her. Justice for All.” NWLC, 8 Mar. 2021, nwlc.org/.
“Special Report on Women-Owned Small Businesses During COVID-19.” U.S. Chamber of Commerce, 31 Aug. 2020, www.uschamber.com/report/special-report-women-owned-small-businesses-during-covid-19.
“Table B-5. Employment of Women on Nonfarm Payrolls by Industry Sector, Seasonally Adjusted.” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 15 Sept. 2015, www.bls.gov/webapps/legacy/cesbtab5.htm.
“University of the Highlands and Islands.” Events and Webinars - International Women's Day 2021, www.uhi.ac.uk/en/learning-and-teaching-academy/events/international-womens-day-2021/.
“Your Guide to International Women's Day 2018.” Victorian Women's Trust, 12 July 2019, www.vwt.org.au/guide-international-womens-day-2018/.
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