International Women’s Day, celebrated on March 8th, is a globally celebrated occasion that emphasises the importance of gender equality and rights. It acknowledges the stereotypes, the abuse and the prejudice that women have faced throughout history.
This Wednesday will bring the opportunity to celebrate the courage and determination of women in our history that have made momentous change for us today and to also reflect on the progress that has been made all around the world in terms of women’s rights. Since International Women’s Day 2022, the biggest struggle women have faced, specifically in the US, is the overturning of Roe v Wade. Reproduction laws are a crucial element of gender equality and are important to recognise on this day. The right to decide what happens to your body should be a choice, not already determined. It is vital to acknowledge the women of the United States and the battle they currently face and reflect on those who have similarly fought for the rights of women.
Here in school, on Wednesday 8 March and Friday 10 March, there will be a panel of female guest speakers from a variety of different backgrounds who will talk about International Women’s Day and what it means to a woman in today’s society. The talk on Wednesday involves a panel of Sixth Form students, who will be answering questions from Lower School, such as “What does it mean to be a woman?” or “How should we deal with gender stereotyping?” Thanks to Alice A, Rowan C, Bo H, Gracie J, Petra T, Rachael M, Emmanuella I and Cara P for taking part in this debate to inspire our younger pupils. The talk on Friday is with six guest speakers, all from different backgrounds, who will be speaking to Middle School and Sixth Form students and answering their questions around International Women’s Day. In this talk, there is an entrepreneur who runs Vince & co, a local hairdressers, a school governor, a Community Engagement Officer, a project director at the Department for Education, an engineer and packhouse manager and finally, a yoga teacher. For all the talks, pupils have been invited to send in their questions before the event, so organisers can ensure a range of topics are covered.
The theme of International Women’s Day this year is #EmbraceEquity which means having equal rights to males, feeling empowered to have great careers, to stand up for what you feel is right and to be proud of who you are as a young woman. Miss Woodmansey, Head of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) said: “We are so delighted to be celebrating International Women’s Day in a way that empowers our young women to pursue their dreams, to gain an awareness of the world around them and learn how they can interact with others to create positive change in terms of embracing equity. We are so grateful to all of our guest speakers and know that the events will be a positive and educational experience for all.”
Maya C, Rosa B, Kate S and Lucia P, Year 11
International Women’s Day Book Recommendations from the Library
• Everyday Sexism by Laura Bates
• Feminists Don’t Wear Pink (and Other Lies) by Scarlett Curtis
• Fantastically Great Women Artists and their Stories by Kate Pankhurst
• Anne Frank’s Story by C A Lee
• Becoming by Michelle Obama
