International Women’s Day is an annual opportunity to advocate for women and girls around the world. It’s a time to disrupt gender bias and dig a little deeper into what we really mean by gender equity.
Someone once said to me, “What’s the big deal about women? If you want to be equal to men, you can’t complain if someone treats you differently.” It has taken me years to really articulate the best answer to this question, but it turns out the United Nations foundation sums it up quite nicely: “Investing in girls is one of the smartest things we can do to promote a healthier, more prosperous world. Every girl has the right to be in charge of her future and her fate, and we have the collective obligation to protect her rights and promote her wellbeing. Empowered girls are key to breaking the cycle of poverty for families around the world.”
As we round the sun to mark another holiday (and don’t forget, the entire month of March is Women’s History Month), remember that what we even define as gender is constantly expanding. As women, we can lead the charge to ensure all marginalized communities benefit from the advocacy, self care, and empowerment that we embody in our local communities.
Join us to #EmbraceEquity for International Women’s Day 2023…and beyond! Check out one of SheJumps many events this month as we celebrate our community.
Sincerely,
Claire Smallwood