International Women's Day: Call For Action

As a man writing on International Women's Day, it’s important to step aside and focus on the voices of the women around me. There are numerous important issues relating to gender inequality and its intersections that I could address today, but this day is not about my perspective. It’s about centering the voices of the women whom this day is truly meant to honour. My role in this article is to uplift their experiences and perspectives, highlighting what they want from the day and what matters most to them. While the theme on this website is #AccelerateAction, the call from the UN is: “For ALL women and girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment.”

So I asked my team: what do you want from International Women’s Day?

I spoke with Mercy, Project Manager at The Unmistakables, who pointed out that while “International Women's Day and International Women's History Month are great for celebrating the accomplishments of women, but that needs to be met with action. We get to recognise the amazing work, but without the drive for equity and access, it is simply not enough. Companies and organisations need to consider authenticity during this time, and ask themselves: are they part of the problem or are they part of the solution?”

Selina, Principal Consultant, echoed this sentiment, focusing heavily on the importance of highlighting positive actions that address systemic issues, rather than solely pointing out the problems. She shared an example from her local gym, Achieve Lifestyle, which is offering a special event for women to access the facilities at a subsidised cost. 

“This is great as it centers on the experience of women, rather than trying to educate or lecture,” she said. “It’s much more practical in creating a safe environment for women to practice new ways of exercise or look after their wellbeing. They have a #HerMove to drive engagement. This feels genuine rather than tokenistic, especially since the gym offers some women-only classes as part of its regular timetable—not just a one-off occasion.”

The stories shared by Mercy and Selina highlight a crucial message: International Women's Day should not simply be a moment of reflection, but a call to action for lasting change. Shilpa encapsulates this stating: “So far all I've seen is women talking to each other about the importance of IWD. I have no further interest in attending events that 'celebrate women' and listen to panel discussions on the topic. What I want to see is action now. ACTION.”

While celebrating women’s achievements is important, we must also commit to taking concrete actions that dismantle the systemic barriers that continue to hold many women back—especially as women's rights are under increasing threat around the world.

As men we must play a role - not just to listen and learn, but to play our part in creating change. That's exactly what SheSays is calling for as they highlight that 66% of people in Britain agree that women won't achieve equality in their country unless men take actions to support women's rights too. You can apply to be an ally for 'She Says, We Act' here, and ensure that allyship goes beyond filling in an online form - it carries through to day-to-day actions.