International Women's Day

Today, March 8th, we are celebrating the ladies. Women play a crucial role in the workforce and their contributions are essential to building a strong economy and society.

Historically, women have faced barriers and discrimination in the workplace, including unequal pay, limited opportunities for career advancement, and lack of representation in leadership positions.

However, the importance of women in the workforce cannot be overstated. Women bring unique perspectives, skills, and experiences to the workplace that help to foster innovation and creativity. They also contribute to a diverse and inclusive work environment, which has been shown to increase productivity and profitability.

When women have access to equal opportunities in the workplace, they are able to achieve their full potential and make valuable contributions to their organisations and communities.

Therefore, it is important to continue working towards creating a more equitable and inclusive workplace for women.

The history of women in the workforce is a long and complex one, marked by significant struggles for equal rights and opportunities. For much of human history, women were excluded from formal employment, with their roles primarily limited to unpaid domestic work and childcare. However, with the advent of the Industrial Revolution and the World Wars, women were increasingly needed in the paid workforce to fill labour shortages left by men who had gone off to fight or work in factories.

This led to a significant increase in the number of women in the workforce, but they were often relegated to low-paying, low-skill jobs and faced discrimination and harassment on the job. The women's rights movement of the 20th century, along with legislative changes such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964, helped to break down many of these barriers and open up new opportunities for women in the workforce.

Today, women make up nearly half of the global workforce, but they still face challenges such as the lack of representation in leadership positions.

There are countless examples of women who have empowered themselves and others, breaking down barriers and making significant contributions to society. Here are just a few examples:

1. Malala Yousafzai: At just 15 years old, Malala was shot in the head by the Taliban for speaking out about girls' right to education. Since then, she has become a global advocate for girls' education and the youngest Nobel Peace Prize laureate.

2. Ruth Bader Ginsburg: As a Supreme Court Justice, Ruth Bader Ginsburg fought tirelessly for gender equality, reproductive rights, and other progressive causes. Her work helped to advance women's rights in the United States and beyond.

3. Wangari Maathai: Maathai was the first African woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize for her work in environmental conservation and women's empowerment. She founded the Green Belt Movement, which has planted millions of trees across Africa and helped to empower rural women.

4. Ada Lovelace: Lovelace is considered the world's first computer programmer, having written the first algorithm for Charles Babbage's Analytical Engine in the mid-1800s. Her work laid the groundwork for modern computing.

And there are so many more of these incredible women, one may even be living in your home!

Keep a look out on our LinkedIn and join us for a discussion on what women inspire us! As a young woman, it is important to me that we use our platforms to spread awareness about the issues women are facing today. It is vital that we support women who might not have the opportunities that we have, those in third world countries, the women running from wars, the women suffering with thier mental health, the women around us.

These acts do not need to be huge, you do not need to donate millions to make a difference, ensuring people are aware of what struggles people face day-to-day is vital to making the world a much better place. International Women's Day is not just about being grateful for the women in our lives, it is being grateful for those who came before us, the women who fight to make our lives better and the women who hope to make a difference.

From DCTUK to the women of the world, thank you!