As I sat down to write this year’s International Women’s Day feature, I am filled with admiration for the countless women who are thriving in leadership roles across various industries, particularly in the tech landscape.
From pioneering innovations in engineering and cybersecurity to driving change as techpreneurs and excelling in senior management positions, these women are carving out their own spaces in a field historically dominated by men. Their achievements are a testament to their unwavering perseverance, remarkable skill, and unrelenting determination, and I am in awe of how women are making a mark in the tech landscape.
However, one common theme seems to stand out. Many of the female leaders that we’ve spoken with share this sentiment: “We have come a long way, but a lot of work still needs to be done.”
International Women’s Day is a call to action for gender parity. The origins of this call to action run deep and radical.
In 1911, International Women’s Day was marked when over 1 million women and men in Austria, Denmark, Germany, and Switzerland, took to the streets to demand for women’s right to vote, to education, to hold public office and against employment discrimination.
Today, more than 100 years later, much has improved for women in a number of regions. There’s no doubt that women, at least in the developed world, have come a long, long way since the first International Women’s Day was conceived.
We are now seeing many female CEOs, board members, government leaders, engineers, inventors and more. So, with this progress, does celebrating ‘International Women’s Day still matter?
The short answer is, yes!
Despite amazing and significant progress, like what many of our inspiring tech leaders have said – there’s still much to be done. Today, women still account for less than 25 percent of the workforce in tech companies. Women hold only 13 percent of leadership positions in the tech industry globally.
Having a day that focuses attention and action around gender parity is as important in 2023 as it was in 1911.
It took more than 100 years and countless efforts from trailblazers, leaders and visionaries to see the progress we are witnessing today, so it’s only rightful that we celebrate.
It’s true that if we truly support equality and equity, then we won’t only give women one day in a year but also the other 364 days. But the sad reality is that we live in a world that prioritises men and, in fact, we are another century away from having actual gender parity. To get to that stage, we have to push women up as hard as we can and amplify their voices. This is what International Women’s Day is for.
Until true gender equality is achieved, I believe that International Women’s Day is necessary. It provides an opportunity to celebrate the remarkable achievements of women and acknowledge the progress that has been made, while also highlighting the existing gender-based inequalities and the work that still needs to be done.
Once we reach a point where we are all on equal footing, then we can reconsider the necessity of an International Women’s Day. For now, I will continue to use this annual celebration as a means to appreciate the incredible women in my life and in the industry, and recognise both the progress we have made and the challenges that remain.
Another 100 years from now, 8 March may just be regarded as a normal day when everyone is equal. But until then we need to keep the conversation going and move even further in the direction of gender equality.
