International Women’s Day 2023, will be observed on March 8th, it serves as a poignant reminder of both the great strides women have made towards attaining gender equality and the enormous obstacles that still exist in their way. On this day, we honour the accomplishments, advancements, and contributions of women to society and call attention to the difficulties and barriers that women encounter and to advocate for gender equality.

International Women’s Day Theme 2023

The theme for this year is DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality. The discrepancies in internet and technology use between men and women are referred to as the gender gap in digital access. Despite substantial advancements in recent years, there are still large gender gaps in access to and use of digital technology worldwide. The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) reported that women are 10% less likely than men to have access to the internet internationally.

In developing nations, where women are 23% less likely than males to have access to the internet, this gender gap is much more pronounced. The gender gap in digital access is caused by a number of things, such as social conventions and cultural attitudes that prevent women from using technology, a lack of digital literacy and skills, affordability, and accessibility to pertinent material and services. An all-encompassing strategy that addresses these underlying issues is necessary to close the gender gap in digital access.

This includes advocating gender-inclusive laws and regulations in the computer industry, increasing digital literacy and skill training for women, lowering the cost of internet access, addressing gender-based discrimination and violence online, and more.

Women’s Day Topic for Discussion

Women have achieved great progress in a variety of professions, including politics, education, healthcare, and business. The proportion of women in leadership positions has increased throughout many nations, and they have significantly advanced the fields of science, technology, and the arts. Yet, gender inequality still exists in many regions of the world despite these accomplishments.

•  → Gender-based violence is one of the most important concerns affecting women internationally. Abuse can happen to women of any age, colour, or financial status, and it can take many different forms, including physical, sexual, and emotional abuse. Besides legal and policy measures, ending gender-based violence necessitates a culture transformation that prioritises the security and well-being of women.
  • →  One in three women worldwide have experienced physical or sexual violence, usually at the hands of a partner, according to the UN. Gender-based violence not only harms women’s physical and emotional health,  but also prevents them from fully participating in society.
• → Another important problem that affects women today is the gender pay gap. For the same amount of effort, on average, women make less money than males; for women of colour, the disparity is considerably worse. Women’s financial security is negatively impacted by this discrepancy, which also reinforces gender inequality and restricts their ability to fully engage in society.
• → Women also continue to face obstacles in politics, the healthcare system, and the corporate world in addition to these difficulties.
  • → Women are underrepresented in positions of leadership, and their opinions are frequently disregarded when making decisions. Women’s health concerns are frequently disregarded, and they encounter discrimination when trying to receive necessary medical care. Women entrepreneurs have challenges in accessing connections, funds, and resources they require to launch and grow their businesses.

Education is a fundamental component of women’s empowerment. Women must have access to education in order to advance economically and socially, yet many of them are denied this fundamental right globally. In addition to helping girls, investing in their education has a favourable effect on their families, communities, and the whole economy.

How to celebrate International Women’s Day 2023?

Women have made great progress towards gender equality despite all the obstacles they face. From politics and science to sports and the arts, women are dismantling barriers and shattered glass ceilings in every sphere of society. But even while there has been progress, there is still much to be done to solve the problems that women today face.

1. → Educate yourself: Spend some time learning more about the achievements of women throughout history, the difficulties they still face today, and the contributions they have made to society. You may learn more about women’s issues from a variety of online and printed materials.
2. → Encourage female-owned businesses: Consider helping female entrepreneurs in your community by making purchases from women-owned businesses. This is a great way to promote the economic empowerment of women.
3. → Attend or organize an event: Look for local events in your region and consider organising or attending one. Also, you can plan your own occasion, such a panel discussion or debate on women’s issues.
4. → Support women’s rights: Speak out for gender equality and women’s rights. Make use of social media to raise awareness and to share the experiences of powerful women. Write to your elected officials and urge them to support laws that advance gender equality.
5. → Donation: Consider making a donation to a charity that aids women in need or supports women’s rights.
   • → There are many NGOs and good will organisations working for rights and empowerment of women around the world. Wishes and Blessings, a Delhi based NGO, is one such organisation. The organisation has a functioning skill development unit ‘Sahaas’ at their Mann Ka Tilak old age home, wherein marginalized women from economically challenged families are trained and equipped with stitching skills free of cost.
   • → Through modest efforts of charitable entities like this, women are given a platform to generate income and sustain themselves and their families.  Furthermore, the Mann Ka Tilak old age home in Vrindavan currently houses 21 old, abandoned elderly women. They are given the love and care that everyone is entitled to with all amenities provided free of cost. It is in the organisation’s mission to open a string of old age homes in the country with an aim to inspire and empower dreams.

Together, we can make a society where all women may live freely, without having to worry about violence, have access to healthcare and education, and have the chance to realise their full potential. 

If you have a heart to make a difference in society and even more for women in light of International Women’s Day, do get in touch with us because together, we can do so much better!

International Women’s Day 2023 Quotes

1. → “The story of women’s struggle for equality belongs to no single feminist nor to any one organization but to the collective efforts of all who care about human rights.” – Gloria Steinem
2. → Women are fierce. They are powerful. No matter what language they speak, how they dress, or the work they choose to do. What matters is they have a choice, and the freedom to carve out a life for themselves. As long as we know women who are strong and resilient, we must respect them, carry them forward, and lift them up. For they are the product of all our other selves, the women we were, the ones we strive to be, the collective struggle of our mothers, our sisters, our daughters. Our salvation will only come if we stand together”― Lang Leav, Love Looks Pretty on You