Less noise, more action | Let's move past performativity this International Women's Day

International Women’s Day (IWD) happens on the 8th March every year and provides an opportunity for society to reflect on how far we have come in empowering and emancipating women, but also how much further we must go to achieve meaningful equity.

IWD was spurred by the universal female suffrage movement in the early 20th century, when women in Europe and North America advocated for women’s rights and equality.

From this point, this day at the beginning of March signified an opportunity to focus on the changes that must be made – all year round – to mold the world we want to see.

The gender pay gap is understandably one of the biggest topics of conversation around gender equality. And yet, many female speakers, influencers and professionals, in an ironic but unsurprising situation, have taken to LinkedIn to highlight that they are being asked, often by large organisations, to speak for free at IWD events.