The Importance of Friday, March 8, 2019
March 8 is International Women’s Day (IWD). This is a day to recognize the achievements of women across the world and to appreciate their contributions to various fields. Women have long challenged the stereotypes of being confined to the household and of being unable to enter the workforce. However we recognize now that this world needs the other half – women have demonstrated that there is no limit to their work or efforts and that our societies flourish when women are granted equal rights and privileges.
It’s truly exciting and inspiring to see IWD being celebrated across schools, universities, and workplaces. It’s important to educate others on what it means to empower women and to acknowledge the challenges that women still continue to face in the pursuit of gender equality. Today’s woman is independent, strong, and resilient in the household and or in the office. Today’s woman is a game-changer, an engineer, a social innovator, an executive leader, and an entrepreneur. It is our responsibility to realize their worth and empower them to succeed.
On IWD2019, take a moment to think about the women who have meaningfully influenced your life. Perhaps there is a mother, a sister, a grandmother, or a friend that has been an exceptional mentor in your life.
Did you know?
- The theme for IWD 2019 is #BalanceForBetter. The goal is to encourage gender equality in boardrooms, in the media, and in wealth in order to strengthen our economies.
- International Women's Day was started on March 8, 1908 when 15,000 women marched through the streets of New York City to demand shorter hours, better pay, and the right to vote.
- The sign sometimes used to represent the female sex (♀) is also the symbol for the planet Venus
- Women make 20% less than men and won't reach pay equity until 2059 if current conditions persist, according to AAUW.
- Generally considered to be the world's first novel, The Tale of Genji was written in Japan around AD 1000 by Murasaki Shikibu.
- The probability of a woman giving birth to a baby girl instead of a baby boy increases significantly the nearer the mother lives to the equator, research has shown.
- There are currently 17 countries with women as head of government, head of state, or both, which, according to the UN, has more than doubled since 2005.
- The World Health Organization has found that women are less likely than men to disclose problems with alcohol use. Women have more difficulty coming forward with alcohol and drug addictions because of women’s perceived “place” in society as “people who bear and rear children” as well as the negative stereotype that women users are sexually promiscuous because of their drug use.
Wonderful post!
I will be attending 2 events celebrating International Women's Day. The first is to raise funds for Guelph's local Rhyze Awards and is hosting speaker, Professor Maja. The second is to raise funds for Family Transition Place, Orangeville's women's shelter and the speaker will be Anna Gustafson.
I am looking forward to celebrating women everywhere at these annuals. They always leave me feeling empowered and happy to be a part of the female population.
All the best to all the women who care and share their spirit and their work to make our world a better place.
Hello. I would like to see more men liking your post!
International Women's Day is also an important time to reflect on women's mental health and on how gender acts as a critical determinant of mental health and mental illness across the globe.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), "gender specific risk factors for common mental disorders that disproportionately affect women include gender based violence, socioeconomic disadvantage, low income and income inequality, low or subordinate social status and rank and unremitting responsibility for the care of others." Gender bias also significantly impacts whether and how women disclose symptoms of mental illness, and how their symptoms are diagnosed and treated by health care providers.
To improve women's mental health worldwide, we can join in the WHO's commitment to:
As IWD2019 approaches, I am inspired that more and more men are standing up and joining #MeToo, courageously disclose being sexually abused. Despite some complaints here and there that #MeToo was too much etc. ( nothing is perfect, including a mass movement), the momentum against sexual abuses are still going strong. It ignited a light at the end of the tunnel for those abused to heal from mental injuries.
Happy International Women’s Day!
This is a great time for women to take a minute to pause and check in with their overall mental health and well-being. With busy life schedules and routines, it can be difficult for women to balance everything while still maintaining good mental health. Women will often feel stressed and face unique stresses and challenges that can have a negative impact on their mental health and can change at different stages in life. Compared to men, women are more likely to hold multiple jobs, be a single parent, experience family violence and live on a low income.[i]
To help women regain that personal balance and to start thinking more about their mental health, the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) partnered with Shoppers Drug Mart to promote women’s mental health with an online, Mental Health Self Check tool, designed to help women across Canada understand and improve their mental health.
The Mental Health Self Check is free and takes less than 15 minutes to complete and all the information is anonymous. Respondents can complete the questionnaire as many times as they like to see how their self-reported mental health changes over time. Users can download their results as a PDF and the tool also includes practical and attainable tips to help maintain or improve mental health. A growing body of research has found that being active – such as stretching, swimming or jogging - can help promote your mental health and reduce the risk of developing depression or anxiety.[ii]
Click here to try the Mental Health Self Check tool today!