Celebrated annually on 8 March, International Women’s Day (IWD) is a crucial day in the year where the world unites to honour women’s achievements, champion for women’s equality, lobby for accelerated gender parity and much more.
This year, IWD celebrations and discussions will aim to #BreakTheBias. Whether conscious or unintentional, existing gender bias makes it difficult for the gender equality to make progress. Identifying bias is the first step, but more action still needs to be taken to make a meaningful difference.
Women have been crucial in driving growth in the economy within Asia Pacific. Despite this progress, the ratio of women in senior leadership in Asia Pacific is 27%. Globally, the ratio of women leaders going up the ranks decreases: support staff stand at 47%; professionals 42%; Managers 37%; senior managers 29% and executives at 23%. (1)
The COVID-19 pandemic has only served to worsen the situation across the globe, revealing several societal inequalities with regard to wealth, gender, race, and more. Women’s jobs are 1.8 times more likely to be jeopardised due to the pandemic. (2) The Global Gender Gap Report 2021 from the World Economic Forum’s predicted time to close the global gender gap increased from 99.5 years to 135.6 years. (3)
For real change to happen, both men and women need to work hand in hand to achieve gender equality. Men are important allies in making progress on this front. Research has shown that when men are involved in workplace programs that support gender inclusion, 96% of organisations see progress. That number drops to only 30% when men are not engaged. (4)
We spoke to some of our People2.0 APAC leaders to find out what IWD means to them:
What does International Women’s Day mean to you?
What can men do to help to achieve equality?
How does People2.0 support equal opportunities at the workplace?
Why do you think diversity in the workplace is so important?
Together, we can all #BreakTheBias – on International Women’s Day and beyond.
In celebration of IWD, our colleagues from around the world struck the IWD #BreakTheBias pose to show solidary and support for the cause. Watch the video here.
At People2.0, our company prides itself on giving everyone every employee equal opportunities. IWD is an important cause to us as an organisation, and we strive to do our part eliminate disparity at the workplace.
References:
(1) Under-representation of women in leadership: The need for cultural change action
(2) Women and Equality: The Post-COVID Challenge in the Asia Pacific
(3) Why allyship is key to gender balance
(4) Allyship Matters: How Men Can Help Accelerate Gender Equality in Health
