It’s International Women’s Day. A movement which is championing gender equality. A world free of bias, stereotypes and discrimination.
I can’t believe we are having to imagine it. Why it isn’t in existence already? Yet according to the UN, gender equality is still 300 years away.
Estimates say it will take 286 years to close legal gaps and remove discriminatory laws. 140 years for women to be equally represented in positions of power and leadership in the workplace. And at least 40 years to achieve equal representation for national parliaments.
New research from WorldBank found that there is no equality for working women in any country in the world. On average women enjoyed just 64% of the legal protections men do, down from the previous estimate of 77%. Closing the global gender gap could raise global gross domestic product by more than 20%.
Here in the UK where we work with women to have greater impact without burning out, it could be easy to be discouraged by these figures.
So what if one woman stays in her leadership position another year? So what if there’s one more or less woman on a board? So what if there’s one more or less woman-founded business on the planet? So what if one more marriage in the UK or Europe is slightly more equitable than before?
But then I look in at those individual women in our community and the ripple effects can be seen.
Our community is making ripples.
Karen Jones is coaching more women into positions of leadership inside her organisation of 100,000, making a name for herself and advocating for women.
Samantha Bradford is working with couples to create financial plans which are in alignment with their values and creating legacies which they are proud of. Her work also supports The Hunger Project, which trains women leaders in South Asia and Africa.
Sarah Simons collaboration with her community to convert their village green and make their green spaces more wildlife friendly. Multiple villages went on to model her simple, but transformational work.
Angela Peake is supporting healthcare professionals with health issues to remain in work and thrive. She no longer wants to retire. She loves life.
I could go on. There are literally thousands of stories that inspire me each and every day.
All of these women have found a way to sustain their energy so that they could assist others in the way they feel called.
They reconnected to their values. Their joy. What lights them up.
You see this is the thing…
When you empower a woman to find more energy, to lead, to do it without burning out, she doesn’t use her extra energy to take more holidays and hang about drinking coffee with her friends all day.
She uses it to change the world. Even if it’s one tiny corner of it.
We mirror exactly what happens in the developing world. You empower a woman out of poverty, and she’ll bring her entire village with her.
And eventually all these little corners of the world will join up. All these little circles will connect.
This is what I celebrate about women.
We care.
We have an impact because we care, and we won’t stop caring.
It’s our mothering energy. To nurture, care and protect.
So for me I don’t care if it takes 3 years, 30 years or 300 years. I’m in! And I’ll continue to support thousands of grassroot leaders each year to sustain their energy so that they can make the impact they feel called to make in the world. How about you?
Our intention is simple. To support professional women to handle the day-to-day so they can unleash the bigger impact they feel called to make in the world.
We believe real leadership is less about skill, and more about having a well of physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual strength to draw on. Every week we support thousands of grassroots leaders globally with our free articles, videos and online trainings with powerful tools and methodologies created BY women FOR women.
- Why at One of many it’s International Women’s Day, everyday - March 7, 2024
