International Women's Day: Invest in Women

Today is International Women's Day and you've probably seen every leader and company follow the theme crafted by International Women's Day .com, #InspireInclusion. In years past, I've followed the theme set by this organization, but this year is different.

In the past few years, we've seen an attack on women's rights that show that equality is not the goal. We've seen the reversal of Roe v Wade, the uncertainty of the future of IVF, and a detrimental attack on DEI efforts that will cause ripple effects for years to come. 

So, when I saw the theme #InspireInclusion with the heart sign, it angered me. How can all these things be happening, yet we perpetuate an approach that might have been more appropriate 10 years ago? 

In my desperate approach to find something with teeth to make today's message a strong call to action, I found the United Nations' theme "Invest in women: Accelerate progress". This is the energy I was searching for. This is the boldness, the directness, and the action-oriented focus I was expecting today.

From the United Nations, "The world is facing many crises, ranging from geopolitical conflicts to soaring poverty levels and the escalating impacts of climate change. These challenges can only be addressed by solutions that empower women. By investing in women, we can spark change and speed the transition towards a healthier, safer, and more equal world for all."

Check out these key data points: 

• An additional $360 billion is needed per year to achieve gender equality

• Closing gender gaps in employment could boost GDP per capita by 20 percent

• Closing gaps in care and expanding services with decent jobs could spark almost 300 million jobs by 2035.

This is the piece of data that should alarm you:

"If current trends continue, more than 342 million women and girls could be living in extreme poverty by 2030."

I'll end by sharing a link to the United Nations website so you can read the entire article: https://www.unwomen.org/en/get-involved/international-womens-day

I'll also end by sharing one last quote from the United Nations, "Investing in women and championing gender equality turbocharges a future where everyone in society can thrive, creating a world of boundless opportunity and empowerment for all."