International Women’s Day (IWD) is a global celebration held annually on 8th March. It recognises women’s achievements and highlights the ongoing fight for gender equality. This important day serves as a call to action to accelerate progress in various aspects of life, including the workplace, leadership, and economic empowerment.
International Women’s Day 2025 focuses on the theme “Accelerate Action,” urging individuals, businesses, and governments to take faster and more effective steps toward gender equality. While progress has been made, disparities remain, making this theme especially relevant in today’s world.
The World Economic Forum estimates that, at the current rate, gender equality may take over 130 years to achieve. This statistic reinforces the urgency to act now. Governments and businesses must commit to policies that support women in leadership, education, and economic participation.
How Can You be a Female Advocate at Work
A female advocate actively supports gender equality in the workplace by promoting fair opportunities and challenging biases. Advocacy doesn’t require grand gestures; small, consistent actions make a big impact. Here’s how you can advocate for women at work on International Women’s Day 2025 and beyond:
Mentor and Support Female Colleagues
Providing guidance and mentorship helps women navigate workplace challenges and advance in their careers. Mentors offer advice, advocate for promotions, and provide networking opportunities.
Challenge Gender Bias
Unconscious bias affects hiring, promotions, and performance evaluations. Speak up when you notice unfair treatment or assumptions based on gender.
Promote Equal Opportunities
Ensure women have access to leadership roles, training programs, and career growth opportunities. Encourage diverse hiring and promotion practices.
Encourage Work-Life Balance
Support policies like flexible work hours, parental leave, and remote work options. These initiatives benefit everyone, creating a more inclusive work environment.
Recognise and Celebrate Achievements
Women’s accomplishments often go unnoticed. Actively acknowledge their contributions, whether through awards, promotions, or public recognition.
Challenges Women Face
Women encounter multiple challenges in the workplace that hinder career growth and overall wellbeing. International Women’s Day highlights some of the key obstacles:
Workplace Discrimination
Many women experience bias in hiring, promotions, and workplace interactions. Despite having equal qualifications, they are often overlooked for leadership positions. Unconscious biases and outdated workplace cultures contribute to these inequalities. In male-dominated industries like tech and finance, women struggle to break into senior roles, limiting their career growth.
The Gender Pay Gap
Women frequently earn less than men for the same work. Pay transparency remains a major issue, with many companies failing to disclose salary structures. This disparity affects women’s long-term financial stability, limiting their ability to save for retirement or invest in personal development. Encouraging salary negotiations and implementing regular pay audits can help bridge this gap.
Unequal Caregiving Responsibilities
Women disproportionately handle caregiving duties, balancing work with childcare or elder care. Many workplaces lack flexible policies, forcing women to take career breaks or accept lower-paying roles. Countries with accessible childcare and shared parental leave policies see higher female workforce participation. Supporting flexible work arrangements benefits both employees and employers.
Women’s Health
Access to quality healthcare remains a challenge for many women. Gender biases in medical research and treatment lead to misdiagnoses and inadequate care. Women are more likely to experience conditions like endometriosis, which often goes undiagnosed for years due to lack of awareness. Additionally, workplace policies around menstrual health, maternity leave, and menopause support remain insufficient.
Underrepresentation in Leadership
Despite progress, women remain underrepresented in leadership roles. Many organisations still have male-dominated executive teams. Women leaders bring diverse perspectives, driving innovation and inclusive decision-making. Companies that prioritise female leadership development through mentorship and sponsorship programmes see better overall performance.
Women in Leadership
Women are still vastly underrepresented in leadership roles across industries. Even though they make up nearly 50% of the workforce, they hold significantly fewer high-ranking positions.
A 2024 study by McKinsey & Company revealed:
- Women hold 29% of senior vice president roles.
- Only 29% of C-suite executives are women.
- Women of colour represent just 5% of C-suite leaders.
Despite these statistics, organisations that embrace gender diversity in leadership see higher profitability, better decision-making, and increased innovation. Encouraging women to take on leadership roles benefits both businesses and society as a whole.
One of the biggest barriers to leadership is the broken rung phenomenon, where women struggle to move from entry-level to managerial positions at the same rate as men. Without a strong pipeline of women moving into mid-level roles, fewer women reach executive positions. Addressing this issue requires organisations to implement mentorship programs, leadership training, and policies that actively promote women into managerial roles.
When more women are in leadership, workplaces become more inclusive, diverse perspectives drive innovation, and young women see role models that inspire them to aim higher.
How Can We Empower Women in the Workplace?
Empowering women at work is essential for creating a fair and productive environment. Research shows that gender-diverse leadership teams are 25% more likely to achieve above-average profitability.
Here are practical ways to empower women in the workplace:
Equal Pay Policies
Implementing regular pay audits and transparent salary structures can help eliminate the gender pay gap. Companies should ensure fair pay for equal work, regardless of gender. Supporting women in salary negotiations can also help them achieve financial parity.
Flexible Work Arrangements
Providing remote work options, flexible hours, and parental leave for all genders allows women to balance careers and caregiving responsibilities. Businesses that offer these benefits see higher employee satisfaction and retention.
Leadership Development
Mentorship and sponsorship programmes can help women advance in their careers. Encouraging professional development, networking opportunities, and training ensures women are prepared for leadership roles. Companies that invest in female talent benefit from diverse perspectives and improved innovation.
Inclusive Workplace Cultures
Creating an inclusive work environment where women feel valued and heard is essential. Companies should promote anti-bias training, gender diversity initiatives, and clear reporting channels for discrimination. A supportive culture fosters professional growth and engagement.
Wellity Training Support
Join us for International Women’s Day 2025 training sessions designed to inspire action and drive gender equality in the workplace.
Empowering Women in the Workplace
This session aims to raise awareness about gender inequality and its impact on women in the workplace. It will provide women with the skills and confidence to overcome barriers while fostering mentorship and support networks.
Session Objectives:
- Raise awareness about gender inequality and its impact on women in the workplace.
- Equip women with the necessary skills and confidence to overcome barriers and assert themselves professionally.
- Foster a supportive network and mentorship opportunities to encourage the growth of women employees.
- Promote a workplace culture that values and celebrates the contributions of women.
Waking Up to Women’s Health: The Story of ‘Sara’
This session focuses on understanding gender-specific health issues and the challenges women face. It highlights the importance of early detection, prevention, and proactive workplace adjustments to support women’s wellbeing.
Session Objectives:
- Understand the gender-specific health issues and challenges faced by women.
- Raise awareness about the importance of early detection and prevention in women’s health.
- Encourage proactive adjustments in the workplace to support women.
- Advocate for increased awareness of the challenges faced by women.
Let’s Shatter The Glass Ceiling
This session equips women with the knowledge and skills to shatter the glass ceiling and realise their full potential in their professional journeys.
Session Objectives:
- Recognise and address the challenges faced by women.
- Develop strategies to promote gender diversity and inclusivity in remote and hybrid work environments.
- Enhance strategies and networking skills to create more visibility and impact for female professionals.
- Encourage organisations to implement inclusive policies and practices that support work-life balance and career progression.
Contact our Wellity Global team for further information.
