'Inspire Inclusion' | As DE&I becomes everyone's favorite punching bag, 2024's IWD theme couldn't be more pertinent

The official International Women’s Day (IWD) community asks us to "imagine a gender equal world. A world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination. A world that's diverse, equitable, and inclusive. A world where difference is valued and celebrated."

The truth is, it feels hard to imagine that world right now.

Progress to remove the gender pay gap has stagnanted in the past 20 years. In 2024, according to the American Association of University Women, women earn just 84 cents compared to every dollar earned by men. The gaps widen for women of color or when examining more senior roles or historically male-dominated industries.

Not only are women systematically underpaid, but they are also consistently abused and disadvantaged at work. 2024 research from TeamStage is particularly bleak, finding a staggering 55% of women in senior roles have experienced sexual harassment, 71% of women feel that “unconscious bias” by senior leaders explains their lack of progression, and 77% of mothers say they have experienced discrimination at work while pregnant.