International Women’s Day 2024, “Inspire Inclusion”

The 8th of March marks International Women's Day for 2024, with the theme "Inspire Inclusion". When we inspire others to understand and value women's inclusion, we create a better world for everyone.  

International Women's Day is not just a global celebration of women's social, economic, cultural, and political achievements; it is a day to come together and remember the need to push for further progress in gender equality and inclusion. We have certainly come a long way, but it is important to remember that International Women's Day started as a protest, not a celebration. Every year, the day's theme reminds us that more work must be done.

This year's theme stresses the crucial role of inclusion in achieving gender equality. It calls for action to break down barriers, challenge stereotypes, and create environments where all women are valued and respected.

There are so many aspects of our society that exclude women, let them down, or have never been approached from a woman's perspective. Recognising the unique perspective and contributions of women to our communities and how they add value in so many different ways is crucial to inclusion.

International Women's Day asks us to actively seek the answers to these questions and then take action when committing to inclusion.

• When women aren't present, we must ask: "If not, why not?"

• When women are discriminated against, we must call out poor practices.

• When the treatment of women is not equitable, we must take action.

• And we must do this each time, every time.

Women in Australia who live with a disability face another level of inequality. As a society, we need to ask ourselves why the below (source: Women with Disabilities Victoria) are consistent findings of research into women with disabilities.

• Gender-based and disability-based discrimination doubles the risk of violence for women and girls with disabilities as compared to women without disabilities.

• Women with disabilities experience all types of violence at higher rates.

• Over one-third of women with disabilities experience some form of intimate partner violence.

• Women with disabilities have reduced access to health information, screening, prevention, and care services.

• Women with disabilities are disadvantaged compared to women and men without disabilities. They also experience higher levels of disadvantage than men with disabilities when it comes to employment and income levels.

The disadvantages women with disability face in Australia are significant and should not be forgotten about when talking about International Women's Day and inspiring inclusion. We need to see the voices of women with a disability included in conversations, from a community level up to a policy-making level. Inclusion cannot be achieved if certain voices are excluded from the conversation, consciously or unconsciously.

This International Women's Day, think about the women in your life and what inclusion looks like for them. Inspire those around you to talk about how inclusion differs from person to person, gender to gender, ability to ability, and ask why it does. What barriers and societal structures create this exclusion, and how can we address these?

Every year, we should balance the celebration of women with the continued fight for equality. To lose sight of the foundations of the first International Women's Day in 1911 would see us stagnate in progress. Something we cannot afford to do!