International Women’s Day: What does it mean?
International women’s day: What even is International Women’s Day?
It sparks a magnitude of gratitude, platitude, and attitude.
There’s lots of posting, posturing, and praising going on and there’s a fair bit of sighing, eye-rolling and teeth clenching too. Some feminist raging and some back door misogyny. Some “Hell yes!” and some, “Hell no!”, to the entire concept. The supporters wax lyrical about its benefits and the naysayer’s question, “Why do we even need a women’s day; what about the rest of us?”
To that latter question on this International Women’s Day I say, “Gie us peace!” or to those not familiar with this Scottish exasperation, “Oh, do come on! Give me a break!”. I’m a “Hell Yes” to International Women’s Day. It’s an opportunity for reflection. A united moment to stop, think, look back, take it in and refocus our energy on the horizon.
For me it’s a wee moment to just give us women a shout out, a high five, a cuddle, a big smile, a well done, a ‘Gaun yersell’. Like any oppressed group that has emerged out of the dark into the light I simply want some acknowledgement for the journey we’ve been on and a wee bit of thanks for the collective strength we’ve had to muster to break through and keep on climbing; a respect I personally extend to all who’ve been in or are in any boat like this.
Why?
I think I’ve always wanted equality in treatment, pay and rights, it’s a big part of my broughtupness. My Mum worked for Scottish & Newcastle Breweries and the National Coal Board, very male dominated spaces and I’d class her campaigning for women’s, men’s and human rights as pretty bloomin’ militant. There was always a spikey edge of aggression, confrontation, a banging firsts on tables and a fair bit of shouting. Maybe that’s what was needed?
She manned the picket line, striked, walked-out, sat-in, marched for peace, women’s rights, human rights, campaigned for her party, door-stepped, chained herself to railings, burnt her bra and found herself in the back of a police van or two in her teenage years. I thought everybody’s Mum’s went out on a Saturday morning to march for the cause, and it didn’t feel weird that I was the only 7-year-old holding the end of a banner, listening to them sing and chanting along with the slogan of the moment - getting my wee face in the local paper. There are pictures of her amongst fellow women singing, shouting, fists in the air, arm in arm, huge smiles, hugging a well done and a massive ‘Gaun yersell’! The united, solidarity and sisterhood is still palpable in those tattered and cracked black and white photies and newspaper clippings in that wee box under the bed.
So of course, I was brought up to stick up for myself, first and foremost as a woman and then of course a human. However, much to her disappointment that militant streak didn’t pass to me. I always knew there is a place for it, but when I realized a Saturday morning Women’s CND March wasn’t what my wee pals did; they went swimming, I began to back off and become a wee bit embarrassed by it all. I didn’t really see or ‘know’ the enormity and fundamentality of what she was banging on and on about. I didn’t realise the necessity. She was in the thick of it and she carried on regardless and despite the strain on her marriage, and she still does from her armchair, even after a stroke and living with Parkinson’s – it's her identity. Me? In my own way strived to be treated equally in the playground, workplace, boardroom and home and my campaigning has been in my own way, sticking up for women, changing policy and procedure where I can in my positions of seniority, openly challenging stereotypes, calling out sexism and attempting to educate as I go - much more quietly than Irene though.
BUT now as I’m getting older and more reflective, I think it’s so much more than just equality. I as a woman, want a bit more than being seen as ‘just’ equal – and that might be controversial. It certainly sparks some heated debate when I talk about it. Equality to me, is equal opportunity to be our differentiated selves.
Sure, I want everyone to acknowledge that gender shouldn’t hold anyone back or be used against anyone, but what I really want is recognition that the differentiation of our gender needs respect. I’m specifically talking about women here. Women are unique; our biology places us the only ones whose reproductive systems are designed to change to be able to become pregnant, carry, birth and feed a child. Many years later women’s reproductive systems change again as we move out of child rearing and into our next role. These are biological, physical, and psychological changes that transition us into the next VALUABLE phases of our lives and roles within our functioning society. This is huge, and I think existentially everyone knows that – yet the global we are still dragging their heels in really embracing, supporting, and advocating these fundamental differences, the impact they have at certain points in our lives and the VALUE that would come from designing specific and meaningful support.
Is the strive for equality ironically diminishing the need to celebrate and accommodate meaningful differentiation?
Somehow, we are in a place where creating human life, our next generation is a viewed as a cost to a business way before it’s seen for the VALUE it provides. There are mandatory and statutory policies in place, but have you seen them? Take, statutory maternity pay: after the first 6 weeks in the UK it is £172 per week, tops. Never mind childcare costs preventing a return to the workplace. And there’s nothing statutory out there regarding menopause – the government chose to shirk that one, in case it DISCRIMINATED AGAINST MEN. Yes, I’m shouting! That makes me bloody mad.
Yet, perspective is required. I think it’s important to recognize that statutory maternity paid leave only arrived with the Employment Protection Act 1975, and extended through The Employment Act 1980, opening to all working women in 1993 when Britain came into line with a European Commission directive. It has become more and more inclusive over time. I agree it’s still a way off being inclusive and robust enough; but my point here is that it has evolved and is evolving. And how did these changes come about? Campaigning! Lobbying, activism and action! Trade unions, women in the workplace, men in the workplace – striking, walk outs, sit ins, marches, petitions, door-stepping, a wee bit of chaining to railings no doubt and making a hell of a lot of loud noise. It happened because women and men took action - and I’m proud to say my wee Maw was a solid part of this revolution.
I digress though… I didn’t start this piece with women’s rights and my wee Mum in mind at all. It started as a piece about International Women’s Day and what it means to me. But of course, I could never have got here, confident enough to express my own views and opinions, confident enough to try to make all and every change I can in the workplace and confident enough to influence and campaign in my own way without Irene Caleary, my wee Maw. She is very much part of my International Women’s Day and a huge part of my view on equality, diversity, inclusion and differentiation.
I’m grateful to ALL the famous and infamous pioneering women who’ve got us to where we are today. Those who got us the vote; those who got us into leadership; those who broke into the boardroom; those who lead the way in STEM; those who push for our equality in the workplace, politics, medicine, law and all business and workspaces. Those pushing the women’s health agenda from pregnancy to menopause and beyond. Those in the background researching and analyzing, bringing us the facts to escalate our cause. And those who have and do put one foot in front of the other every day, challenging stereotypes, establishing boundaries and role modelling to our younger generation.
Brilliant women are everywhere – they are all around us!
I’m deeply grateful for all the brilliant women who have and do support me personally in all and any of my endeavors. For those listening ears, sound advice, cautionary tales, stern words, grounding arguments, cheerleaders, champions, advocates, critics. For those who share good old belly laughs, a gid greet and a proper blether. Those who sit with me when I’m down and fly with me when I’m high. The one’s who shout, “Go Gill” or “Hae a word wi yersell, doll”. Those who encourage, share, promote and edify me and my work - I’m grateful to you all and I strive with all my might to give you that back.
To all of the brilliant women who support other women this is a moment to allow ourselves to experience the joyous feeling that we are collectively so much greater than the sum of our parts; and those wee parts are pretty bloody great.
And WE are surrounded by great men too.
For me International Women’s Day isn’t about dimming the light of others for our female light to shine, it’s about celebrating women and all the support we women have had to get to and become who we are. All of those pioneers needed other women and men to propel themselves and some were lucky enough to have strong male allies who were progressive enough to speak out and edify the brilliance of these women. Emeline Pankhurst and the suffragette movement needed George Lansbury and James Kier Hardy supporting the cause in parliament; sticking their head above the parapet, going against the flow behind these doors closed to women, whilst those brave suffragettes campaigned in the streets.
International women’s day is about marking how far we women have come, because the fact is we have come a very long, long way. We could argue that the women’s agenda should be further on, we shouldn’t have to campaign for equality in rights, pay, health and well-being in this day and age. I’d love it if we didn’t but here’s the thing, modern humans have been on this planet for 200,000 years, the first industrial revolution only began 260 years ago, the vote only opened to (almost) all men in 1918. Women only had equal right to vote through The Equal Franchise Act of 1928 – less than 100 years ago. It’s frustrating that we are still banging on about women’s rights in pregnancy and menopause, gender equity and pay gap, the cost of childcare affecting women’s ability to work and the general sense that things are still not equal particularly in the established western world. However, the past 100 years represents a tiny fragment of human history; it’s easy to forget the real progress women have made in this time and even more so in the span of our own lifetimes; how different things are for us compared to our own mothers and grandmothers.
There are pockets of extremity of course, particularly in the middle east, and we stand united with these women and again those men in power who oppress; this is a huge cause for concern. Overall, though, globally the reality is things have never been so progressive, diverse, and inclusive as they are now AND we continue to push and push with more might and strength to eliminate existing and emerging bias and prejudice across the globe. We have brought so much to the surface and into the light, we are campaigning openly across all mediums, and we are getting there – step, by step, by step. It doesn’t feel quick enough to us, but women like Emeline Pankhurst could only have imagined the progress that has been made…
For me International Women’s Day is about acknowledging and celebrating where we are now and identifying the gaps we need to push forward to fill – which make no mistake we will. We have a bloody good track record, we’re fit, up for it and chomping at the bit!
On International Women’s Day I’m grateful for all the brilliant women in my life who continue to support me – thank you for everything you bring to our table.
All the great men in my life who are my allies and supporters – thank you! You don’t just support me; you support all women.
To my wee Maw, who did what she could with what she had to teach me about inequality, narrow-mindedness, exclusion, stereotypes, sexism, marginalization, to stand up for myself and what I believe and to keep on keeping on!
To those who silenced me, talked over me, bullied, belittled and stereotyped me. Called me a bitch, a bulldog and a rottweiler to my face and sniggered it behind my back. The ones who metaphorically patted me on the ass, the handsy ones who actually patted me on the ass, physically groped me, verbally violated me with sexual and textual innuendo and the ones who knew about this and let it slide. To those who assumed the worst of me and asked no questions, shamed me, treated me differently, paid me differently, underestimated me, overestimated me, couldn’t understand me, felt intimidated by me, or just simply couldn’t like me: I’m rather profoundly grateful for you too. How so? As I gather years, I confidently shed the amount of $hits I give about you, it, and your insecurities. I can reflect that all of that has been a massive part of my journey. What doesn’t kill you has a habit of making you stronger. This has simply reinforced a gratitude for my own resilience and fortitude which interestingly and so satisfyingly magnifies in the company of other brilliant women.
I’m a huge supporter and advocate of gender equality and meritocracy. I’m a huge supporter of women supporting women. I’m impressed and elevated by men openly allying women. I’m a massive enthusiast of humans supporting humans. I talk about equality and that we ALL need equal opportunity to be our differentiated selves. Perhaps that’s my evolution of my wee Mum’s and her generation’s agenda? I am realising the cause will never be over, we will never have won, it’s really not about winning - because this is not a revolution, it’s an evolution and we are here for the long game!
It makes me incredibly proud to hope that next generations of women rising through the ranks and living life to the full, look back at posts like this and think like I did: “What on earth was she banging on about!”. We will have done our bit and that contribution is what keeps us evolving…
Gill
I coach (mainly) women to step into, be brilliant in or step away from C&D-Suite positions in commercial and highly competitive environments. If you like the cut of my jib and fancy checking me out: website: Gill Caleary Coaching. Connect on LinkedIn.