Even after women earned the right to vote in many Western countries in the early 1900s, women were certainly still not experiencing equality. Following their work and dedication during World War II, many women were unsatisfied with the idea of going back to donning their aprons at home. They wanted more and many of them began to say so. Standing on the shoulders of these inspirational women, we are a proud Woman-owned business, supported by many more amazing men and women.
Through the centuries, many courageous women have stepped forward to fight inequality and to champion these causes for the benefit of society and the women of the future, including Amelia Earhart, one of the first women of aviation. Activists such as Emmeline Pankhurst who led the suffragette movement in the UK and Sophie Walker, Sandi Toksvig and Catherine Mayer who founded the Women’s Equality Party.
The unfortunate fact is that women are still not paid equally to that of their male counterparts, women still are not present in equal numbers in business or politics, and globally women’s education, health and the violence against them is worse than that of men. However, great improvements have been made. We do have female astronauts and prime ministers, school girls are welcomed into university in most countries, women can work and have a family, women have real choices. And so each year the world inspires women and celebrates their achievements.
“Imagine a world where women enjoy the same rights and opportunities as men. Where gender inequality is a thing of the past. Where everyone is able to flourish. Where we can all flourish. Gender equality means better politics, more inclusive policies, a more vibrant economy, a workforce that draws on the talents of the whole population and a society that’s at ease with itself. Because when women fulfil their potential, everyone benefits”
One of the most important things about Women’s History Month is the collaboration that can be found when people work together for a cause, as seen in the women’s suffrage movements. Whatever way it is celebrated, Women’s History Month is the perfect reminder to get active in the plight of women all over the world. The women’s movement of the 1960s put an even greater spotlight on women’s issues and made it clear that historical contributions by women had been completely discounted.
How can you celebrate?
Well of course you can put on Shania Twain “Man I feel like a Woman” or “I am Woman” by Helen Reddy and play them really really loud. Then how about choosing some of these ideas:
Watch a Documentary about women’s rights
- 9to5: The Story of a Movement (Netflix)
- Feminists: What Were They Thinking? (Netflix)
- Reversing Roe (Netflix)
- This Changes Everything (Netflix)
- Period. End of Sentence. (Netflix)
- The Janes (HBO)
- A Secret Love (Netflix)
- Audrie & Daisy (Netflix)
- She’s Beautiful When She’s Angry (Netflix)
- Miss Representation (Kanopy)
- End of the Line: The Women of Standing Rock (Peacock)
- He Named Me Malala (Amazon Prime)
Read books about Women’s rights
- “Abolition. Feminism. Now.” by Angela Y. Davis, Gina Dent, Erica R. Meiners, and Beth Richie (Bookshop) (Amazon)
- “Bad Feminist” by Roxane Gay (Bookshop) (Amazon)
- “A Room of One’s Own” by Virginia Woolf (Bookshop) (Amazon)
- “Feminism is for Everybody: Passionate Politics” by bell hooks (Bookshop) (Amazon)
- “Know My Name: A Memoir” by Chanel Miller (Bookshop) (Amazon)
- “Untamed” by Glennon Doyle (Bookshop) (Amazon)
- “Whipping Girl: A Transsexual Woman on Sexism and the Scapegoating of Femininity” by Julia Serano (Bookshop) (Amazon)
Listen to some great podcasts
- Binchtopia
- Under the Sisterhood
- The Cut
- Our Body Politic
- Woman’s Hour
- Hysteria
- Encyclopedia Womanica
- Check out TED’s round-up of 10 must-watch talks by women.
Ensure you support Women-owned businesses and help to grow the economy. Get together with other like minded people and share their HERstory, check your gender pay gaps, check your diversity in leadership and management roles and on your boards and see how you can make a difference to the women in your life and at work this month. Ask them what could you do that would really make a difference to them, what would make them feel respected, supported and valued.
Our COO Leona Barr-Jones is an award winning Inclusive Leader and if you want to talk to her about how you can make your business or organisation more Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity aware, please get in touch. You can call us on 01462 262020 or email hello@focus7int.com for help and guidance on your branding and digital steps.
A successful business owner by age twenty, and with a varied 21-year military career including five years at the MoD on Whitehall, Leona has developed first class leadership and management skills. She has managed the successful implementation of major change programmes both in the UK and worldwide, including on behalf of Transport for London in collaboration with the 2012 Olympics. Leona is also IoD Director of the Year and a Fellow of IoD, CMI, InstLM.