International Women’s Day (IWD) is more than just a date on the calendar; it is a significant movement committed to advancing gender equality and empowering women and girls worldwide. Celebrated on March 8 every year, this day offers an opportunity to reflect on the progress made, highlight ongoing challenges, and unite efforts to close gender gaps.
This blog will explore how empowerment fosters societal growth, analyze key areas of progress, and examine obstacles faced by women and girls globally. By the end, you’ll have a clearer understanding of why gender equality is essential and how collective action can create meaningful change.
Why Empowering Women and Girls Matters
Gender equity is not just a social justice issue; it’s a pathway to global development. Data from sources such as UN Women shows that empowering women leads to improvements in education, economic stability, health outcomes, and reduced poverty. Here are a few undeniable reasons why empowering women and girls is indispensable:
- Economic Growth: Studies estimate that closing gender gaps in the workforce could add $12 trillion to global GDP by 2025.
- Healthier Communities: Women reinvest up to 90% of their income back into their families, compared to 30-40% for men. This translates to better access to education, healthcare, and improved well-being for communities.
- Inclusive Decision-Making: When women are part of leadership, decision-making processes become more inclusive and effective.
Despite these clearly established benefits, disparities persist, demanding unified global action.
Key Areas of Progress in Women Empowerment
Numerous initiatives worldwide have led to measurable strides in empowering women. These victories provide a sense of optimism and illustrate how collective change efforts continue to bear fruit.
- Advancing Education for Girls
Over the last decade, significant improvements have been made in global education for girls. According to UNESCO, the number of out-of-school girls of primary school age dropped by 79 million in the past 20 years. Programs such as Malala Fund and Girls’ Education Challenge (GEC) focus on breaking the barriers to education faced by girls in low-resource settings.
Educating a girl results in exponential benefits—not only for her but also for her future family and community. It is estimated that ensuring all girls complete secondary education could prevent 1.5 million child deaths per year.
- Growing Representation in Leadership
Representation matters. Key organizations and advocacy groups have worked tirelessly to ensure that more women are seen in decision-making roles. For instance, the proportion of women in national parliaments globally has increased from 13% in 2000 to 26% in 2023, according to UN Women. Corporate sectors have also shown improvement, with more women appointed to executive positions in Fortune 500 companies than ever before.
While this progress is commendable, cultural barriers often impede further transformation. Women still account for fewer than 9% of CEOs globally, highlighting the need to address systemic bias in leadership selection.
- Addressing Violence Against Women and Girls
Efforts to combat violence against women have gained international traction through campaigns like UNITE by 2030 and the HeForShe movement. According to the latest World Bank data, laws are being passed at increasing rates to criminalize domestic violence, sexual harassment, and trafficking.
The work, however, is far from over. Nearly 1 in 3 women worldwide has experienced physical or sexual violence at least once in her lifetime (source: WHO reports). Ending violence is crucial not only for ensuring safety but also for fostering the confidence and freedom women need to realize their full potential.
The Challenges Women Still Face Globally
Despite undeniable progress, pervasive challenges continue to hinder the empowerment of women and girls. Understanding these obstacles is critical to developing targeted solutions.
- Gender Pay Gap
The gender wage gap remains a significant issue. Women globally earn about 77 cents for every dollar men earn, according to the International Labor Organization (ILO). This disparity is compounded by restricted access to high-paying roles and industries, unpaid caregiving responsibilities, and workplace biases.
- Limited Access to Healthcare
Gender inequalities also extend to healthcare. Millions of women worldwide lack access to family planning services, maternal healthcare, and menstrual hygiene products. Disparities in healthcare access are most pronounced in conflict zones and developing countries, where cultural norms and resource limitations exacerbate the problem.
For example, complications related to pregnancy and childbirth remain the leading cause of death among girls aged 15-19 globally, preventable with proper care and gender-inclusive policies.
- Intersectional Discrimination
Efforts to empower women must consider intersectionality. Women who belong to marginalized communities experience compounded discrimination due to factors like race, ethnicity, economic status, disability, or sexual orientation. These intersectional layers of discrimination require tailored interventions that ensure inclusivity across all demographics.
What Needs to Be Done?
Empowering women and girls requires collective and sustained effort. Here are actionable steps businesses, non-profits, and governments can take:
- Expand Access to Education: Invest in infrastructure and scholarship initiatives that encourage girls to attend and complete school.
- Promote Gender-Sensitive Policies: Corporate and governmental institutions must adopt policies that close the pay gap, ensure maternity leave, and enable better work-life balance.
- Enhance Protective Frameworks: Laws addressing violence, harassment, and discrimination must be strictly implemented; legal systems should ensure victim support services are effective.
- Leverage Technology: Technology empowers women by providing access to education, healthcare resources, and entrepreneurial opportunities in underserved areas.
- Foster Male Allyship: Encouraging men to actively participate in conversations about gender equality—such as through the HeForShe initiative—can dismantle societal norms that perpetuate inequality.
Looking Ahead
International Women’s Day is a time to reflect on what has been achieved and, more importantly, what lies ahead. Gender equity is not simply an ideal but a necessity for social and economic advancement. Progress has been encouraging but uneven, highlighting the urgency to address gender disparity across sectors.
When women thrive, societies thrive. Empowering women and girls is a collective endeavor that demands active engagement from governments, businesses, and individuals alike. Whether through advocating for policies that close gender gaps, supporting women-owned businesses, or participating in awareness campaigns, every action counts.
Together, we can forge a more inclusive, equitable world.