March 8th is a special day separated to celebrate women worldwide. The 2024 theme for the International Women’s Day is “Inspire Inclusion.” Year in, and year out, there have been different campaigns and avenues to empower women and make their voices heard. Breaking the walls of gender bias and discrimination against women is a thing that is adopted in many countries. While there are still some communities that see women as a minority, the IWD is designed to echo the voices of women worldwide and encourage others to follow suit. 

Hundreds of years back, women were not raised to contribute in the society, the home, in politics, in leadership, and even the workplace. But today, women are empowered and being empowered. However, what is the point of empowerment when there’s no avenue to use it? Hence, there’s a need to inspire inclusion.

IWD Theme 2024: Inspire Inclusion 

The theme for IWD 2024 is not just a theme given for the sake of it. It is a call to action, it urges individuals and organisations worldwide to embrace and advocate for inclusive practices. This theme serves the purpose that creates an avenue where women’s contributions are recognised, valued, and integrated into all areas of life. We need to know that inclusion is not just a women’s issue, but a societal imperative for sustainable development and equality.

We should not confuse inclusion for mere participation; it is about making sure women are actively involved, and respected, and have their contributions acknowledged in all areas of life. Women should be given the equal opportunity to excel, lead, and influence. In an inclusive society, diversity is viewed as a strength, and the unique perspectives and skills that women bring to the table are celebrated and leveraged for the greater good. Inclusion can provide gender equality, and the ability to enhance innovation, and we can build more resilient and compassionate communities.

Challenges to Women’s Inclusion

While so many countries respect women, so many others don’t care yet. Even for those who are waving the flag of inclusivity, women still face numerous barriers. These challenges range from issues like the gender pay gap. This is an unfair practice that indicates gender inequality. There’s absolutely no reason why one gender should get certain pay while the other one gets less. This is a clear-cut challenge that women still face in the society.

Another challenge is underrepresentation in leadership positions. This is an invisible barrier that prevents women from rising to the upper rungs of the corporate ladder, regardless of their qualifications or achievements. Hence, women have to work twice as hard to attain certain feats. These practices show gender stereotypes and bias. Some women can’t even go to school, or get access to good healthcare, and economic opportunities. Addressing these challenges requires a concerted effort to dismantle the structural and societal barriers that impede women’s full participation and inclusion in all aspects of life.

How Can We Inspire Inclusion?

Awareness 

We can’t find a solution until we all accept there’s a problem. Even a blind man knows women still face discrimination even in the 21st century. This is why we should keep enlightening the society about this gender bias. Not only that, some women have been brainwashed and told they are not enough and should never try to be empowered. These women need to be told over and over again that they are a force to be reckoned with and they can become anything they want to become. A woman should have dreams and should believe in her capacity to achieve these dreams. The community should also be enlightened to support women so they can be encouraged to become better people.

Implementing Inclusive Policies and Practices

There are some unfair policies in the workplace, educational system, and political system that are not in favour of women. There should be an overhaul of these policies so that women can have the opportunity to spread their wings. Organisations and bodies should develop and enforce policies that support diversity and inclusion, such as equal opportunity when hiring, pay equity, and anti-discrimination policies. Likewise, executives and decision-makers should create flexible work arrangements to accommodate diverse needs, which enables individuals to balance work with personal responsibilities.

Inclusion in Leadership and Career Development 

When there are enough women holding leadership positions, it will make it easy to have women’s interests represented. A woman doesn’t have lesser brains, hence, there should be systems set in place to allow equal opportunity for women to participate in politics, governance, etc.

Also, women need to upgrade their skills and have the opportunity to balance work with life. So many women stop dreaming after childbirth because they are cumbered with the responsibility to nurture. There should be flexibility and good opportunity for women to keep climbing up and not allow family life to stand in the gap of their success.

Conclusion

As we celebrate this year’s International Women’s Day. All of us at EmpireOne Credit Solutions are rooting for women worldwide, we believe in you and your capacity. If you’re a woman who has lots of debt or are a man who is struggling with your finances, you can reach out to us at EmpireOne Credit. Your debt can be reduced by up to 80%, and interest will stop immediately. Call us at (416) 900-2324 to schedule a free consultation with us. Being debt-free feels good!