Breaking the Bias this International Women’s Day

By Catrina Coakley-Burns

It is easy for prevailing global issues to fall somewhat under the radar in our fast-paced and ever-changing society. This is why International Women’s Day focuses global attention on the important issues of gender inequality, bias, stereotyping and discrimination, which are a daily reality for many women across the world. This International Women’s Day, we are exploring the origins and history of this significant calendar event and how we can all support the movement towards gender parity.

What is International Women’s Day?
International Women’s Day (IWD), marked annually on 8th March, is a celebration of the social, cultural, economic and political achievements of women around the world. The global event also draws attention to the many challenges that women have faced in the past, as well as raising awareness of gender inequality in today’s society and how we can take action against it.

IWD has a long-standing tradition dating back to the early 1900s, when 15,000 women marched through the city of New York to demand the right to vote, shorter hours and better pay. The first National Woman’s Day in the United States was celebrated in 1909 and International Women’s Day was honoured for the first time in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland on 19 March 1911. In 1913, International Women’s Day was agreed to be marked annually on 8th March, and it has been observed on this date ever since.

How Can You Support International Women’s Day?
Every year a universal theme is decided for IWD, to unite the campaigns led by communities, groups and networks across the globe. This year’s theme is #BreakTheBias and the diverse range of events taking place across schools, businesses and organisations will encourage attendees to imagine an equal world: a world free of gender bias, stereotypes and discrimination.

Flame PR as a Female-Owned Agency
Flame PR was founded in 2004 by former award-winning BBC journalist Kully Dhadda, and since its inception, the agency has always had a strong female presence in its workforce, leadership team and clientele. With the gender disparity in the technology industry and the shortage of female CEOs in the PR industry, Kully is deeply passionate about encouraging women to be bold and pursue their dreams. Being a role model for other women in the tech, financial services and public relations industries is something which Kully has been able to achieve by starting her own PR agency. “It is hugely important for young females, in the PR industry and beyond, to see successful female leaders bringing immense value to the businesses that they are running”, she says. “This is why I take my role and responsibility as a female founder very seriously, and try to mentor and coach other women at every opportunity to realise their ambitions.”
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Diversity is an essential ingredient for business success and research has proven this time and time again. The 30% Club is a business-led campaign that aims to achieve at least 30% representation of women at board and C-Suite level in companies across the globe. Here at Flame PR, we have a 50/50 gender balance within the senior leadership team and we know first-hand the great value that this adds to our agency. By respecting everyone’s points of view and valuing each other’s strengths, we are able to achieve great results for clients during ideation and problem-solving sessions. The variety of perspectives within the leadership team means that Flame PR can have a true understanding and appreciation for the diverse workforces and marketplaces that we serve as an agency. Contact us to find out more about how our inclusive team can help your business to harness its unique brand proposition and amplify its voice amongst relevant industry audiences.
 
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Taking collective action and accepting shared responsibility for driving gender equality is what makes IWD such an influential and impactful annual event. Whether it’s starting conversations with your colleagues about how to make your workplace more inclusive, or running a workshop in your local community to empower young women to pursue their goals, together we can all help to #BreakTheBias this International Women’s Day.