March 8th 2023 is International Women’s Day, an event marked since the 1960s to bring attention to gender inequality, the oppression of women, and the prevalence of violence against women worldwide. It also presents an opportunity to celebrate womanhood as well as the achievements of women, both historically and in the present day.
This year’s theme for International Women’s Day is Embrace Equity. This was chosen to mark a distinction from equality – where all people are given the same opportunities – and recognise that each person has different circumstances, requiring additional resources and opportunities to achieve an equal outcome. In particular, women face many structural disadvantages, which can impact their educational or job opportunities despite being given equal resources. Fighting these structural disadvantages is vital to creating a society free of gender imbalance, and is the focus of this year’s International Women’s Day.
Across the world, Women are marking International Women’s Day despite the threat of violence they face. In Lahore, Pakistan, around 2000 women are protesting despite the gathering being banned by authorities. Fighting for equal rights, they face violence from police officers striking them with batons and then arresting them. Within the UK, research has found that the gap in pay between higher-educated mothers and fathers has increased since 1970, with the working wages of mothers being only 72 per cent of fathers. This has raised questions about whether the structure of the UK’s economy penalises women having children, despite the nation requiring a rise in birth rates to offset its ageing population. Overall, the specific aims of International Women’s Day may differ by country, but all nations must continue to work to improve gender equity across society.
Scottish Conservative MSP for West Scotland, Pam Gosal, one of the first women of colour elected to the Scottish Parliament, submitted a motion to the Parliament marking International Women’s Day. The motion read:
“That the Parliament recognises the achievements of women around the world on International Women’s Day on 8 March 2023, welcomes the 2023 theme of #EmbraceEquity, which seeks to open up the conversations about why equal opportunities are no longer enough, and that equity is the means through which to achieve equality… and further notes the belief that it is incumbent on all politicians to work together to pursue true equity for the benefit of women across the whole of society”.
In Scotland, hundreds of women took part in a sunrise dip at the Firth of Forth, despite organisers calling off the official event in the wake of sub-zero temperatures. Across the UK further events have been made to draw attention to female historical figures who have previously been overlooked. A plaque was unveiled in Leicester marking the home of Alice Hawkins, a suffragette who challenged Winston Churchill while fighting for the right of women to vote. The Discovery Museum in Newcastle has set a display to celebrate 16 “lesser known” women, while in Belfast, twelve female street artists have created artwork celebrating the holiday.