Celebrate International Women’s Day 2023 and honor the women in your life by embracing equity! Don’t settle for equality – strive for equity to make sure everyone is given a fair chance.
Equality and equity are concepts that are often mistaken for one another. Equality means that all people are treated the same regardless of their race, gender, or other qualities, while equity emphasizes fairness and justice in how people are treated depending on their individual needs and experiences. On International Women’s Day 2023, we celebrate our commitment to embracing equity in order to create a more just world.
Equality is often seen as an idealistic goal, with the thought that everyone should receive equal treatment and resources. This works great in theory but ignores the realities of systemic oppression that have disadvantaged certain groups throughout history. Equity requires us to look at these disparities and work towards making them right by acknowledging differences between individuals and providing targeted solutions to combat inequality
Today we are celebrating International Women’s Day 2023, and with it comes a very important theme: “Embrace Equity.” This phrase emphasizes the need for true equity when it comes to gender equality. But what does it mean to embrace equity? In short, embracing equity means taking steps to ensure that everyone – regardless of their gender or identity – has an equal chance at success.
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the inequalities that exist between men and women. Women have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic, with many losing their jobs or having to leave the workforce to care for children or sick family members. The pandemic has also led to an increase in gender-based violence and has exposed the gendered nature of many societal issues.
2023’s International Women’s Day offers a chance to consider these matters and promote gender equality. It is a day set aside to honour women’s accomplishments and the contributions they have made to society. It is also a day to take action to combat the persistent gender disparities.
Equality and equity may seem like interchangeable terms, but they are actually quite different from each other. Equality speaks to providing everyone with the same opportunities regardless of their background or situation. This can involve things like fair wages, equal access to education, or legal rights for all genders. While this seems great on paper, in practice, people come from different places and have different life experiences which can put them at a disadvantage. That’s where equity comes into play.
For example, imagine two people of different heights trying to reach a high shelf. If they are given the same size stool to stand on, the taller person will easily reach the shelf while the shorter person will struggle. This is equality – treating both people the same. However, if the shorter person is given a taller stool to stand on, they will have the same opportunity to reach the shelf as the taller person. This is equity – treating people fairly by taking into account their differences.
When it comes to gender equality, equity is essential. Women have historically faced discrimination and disadvantage in many areas of life, including the workplace, education, and politics. To achieve gender equality, we need to take into account these differences and provide women with the support and resources they need to succeed.
This means addressing the structural barriers that prevent women from achieving their full potential. For example, women are often paid less than men for doing the same job, which can limit their career opportunities and financial security. To achieve equity, we need to ensure that women are paid the same as men for doing the same job and that they have access to the same career opportunities and training.
Another example is the burden of unpaid care work that falls disproportionately on women. This can limit their ability to participate fully in the workforce and can lead to lower earnings and fewer opportunities for career advancement. To achieve equity, we need to recognize and value the work that women do in caring for their families and communities and provide them with the support they need to balance work and caregiving responsibilities.
In summation, the topic for International Women’s Day 2023, “Embrace Equity,” underscores the essential difference between equity and equality and the necessity to strive towards equity to achieve gender equality. We may endeavor to create a more equal and just society by taking into consideration the differences that exist between men and women and giving them the support and tools they need to thrive. Let’s embrace equity and promote gender equality as we honor International Women’s Day.