Inspiring Inclusion: International Women’s Day 2024

By Colleen Douglas

Recognized around the world, March 8 is International Women’s Day. Positioned within Women’s History Month, it’s a day to reflect on where we started, how far we’ve come, and where we need to go. 

This year, the International Women’s Day (IWD) Foundation hopes to Inspire Inclusion - in the workplace, in media, and in the government. Because when we inspire others to value women’s inclusion, and we truly embrace the diversity of women, we can create a better world .  

While we’ve come a long way since women first entered the workplace, there is still a lot of work to be done. Societal changes like the COVID-19 pandemic have altered the way women approach their careers, and decades-old myths and biases are still holding them back from reaching their fullest potential. 

What’s so different about men & women in the workplace?

Societal pressures, biases, and prejudices have created inherent differences in how men and women approach their careers. 

When asked about what they envision as success, men spoke about reaching top leadership roles, higher wages, and leaving a legacy. Women, on the other hand, painted a picture of career aspirations, self-advocacy, and work-life balance. They spoke about wanting to take risks earlier in their careers, asserting their worth, and wanting to prioritize their happiness over hierarchical success.  

So, what’s behind this difference? Short answer: women are tired. Women often take on most family and household duties, leaving them to juggle their careers and home lives, and it’s taking a toll on their physical and mental health . Women are also held to the ‘double bind ’, an expectation that their communications at work should be both warm and competent to be seen as good leaders, while men only need to be seen as competent. 

To inspire inclusion in our workplaces, and especially in leadership positions, we need to consider these extra expectations and create environments that will allow women to flourish. 

Women in leadership 

Despite facing more pressures as a whole, women remain just as committed to their careers as men , yet they face many internal and external barriers. 

At every career level, women are equally interested in promotions and leadership positions, with 9 in 10 women under the age of 30 wanting to be promoted to the next level. But we aren’t seeing that interest reflected in the hierarchy of our organizations. 

A study by McKinsey & Company and Lean In revealed that while the number of women in C-suite roles has increased from 17 to 28% since 2015, progress has been significantly slower at the manager and director levels. For every 100 men promoted from entry-level positions to manager, only 87 women are promoted, and only 73 women of color. This discrepancy causes a ripple effect through companies, leaving fewer women in the pool to be promoted to senior leadership positions. 

How can we do better?

It can seem daunting to look at society as a whole and ask ourselves “What can I do better?”. But, there are many ways for organizations to empower their women employees .

Workplace policies that take into consideration the experience of women, such as allowing flexibility, offering childcare stipends, and offering employee training and development opportunities, can help to improve the working lives of women. 

Additionally, organizations looking to attract women to leadership roles need to offer more than just good pay . Clearly articulating which skills and experiences are needed for movement into leadership roles, and identifying mechanisms for gaining those skills, will pave a clear path for employees looking to make a career jump. 

Eliminating bias from assessment criteria in interviews, and ensuring job vacancy requirements will allow a wide range of diverse talent to apply, are also measures organizations can make to inspire inclusion in their workforce. 

Going forward from here

There’s still so much to do to create a truly equal society, but we’ve come so far from where we started. This International Women’s Day, let’s commit to building on the foundation of the women who came before us to create an environment where every person, regardless of gender, can achieve their definition of success.