International Women's Day: From Challenge Comes Change
Marked annually on March 8, International Women’s Day is a day that celebrates the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women throughout the world. The day is also a focal point for women’s rights, and marks a call to action for accelerating women’s equality. International Women’s Day (IWD) has occurred for well over a century, with the first IWD gathering in 1911 supported by over a million people. A century later, the day belongs to all groups collectively everywhere; it is not specific to any country, group or organization.
This year’s theme for International Women’s Day is Choose To Challenge. A challenged world is an alert world. Individually, we’re all responsible for our own thoughts and actions – all day, every day. We can all choose to challenge and call out gender bias and inequality. We can all choose to seek out and celebrate women’s achievements. Collectively, we can all help create an inclusive world.
YWCA Edmonton is powerful voice for equity and has been leading social change and progress for women and families in the Edmonton region since 1907. Each International Women’s Day, we recognize and honour our commitment to gender equality, helping women and girls reach their full potential as we work to transform lives and continue to build a stronger, healthier, and equitable community for all.
We recognize this pivotal point in Alberta’s history – all Albertans have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, with women, girls and marginalized populations being disproportionately affected. YWCA Edmonton is committed to being a strong voice and partner in removing the barriers that prevent women and gender-diverse people from participating in our economy. We Choose to Challenge the status quo: our goal is to see that women and gender diverse persons are represented equally at all decision-making tables – so they too may lead, participate and support the pandemic economic recovery.
YWCA Edmonton chooses to challenge every day in as we work to reduce barriers to social supports, advance gender equity and achieve economic equality by responding to urgent needs in the community while creating sustainable systemic change. This International Women’s Day, join us in our work to support and empower women, girls and gender-diverse people. Raise your hand high to show you’re in and that you commit to choose to challenge inequality and forge an inclusive world. From challenge comes change, so let’s all choose to challenge.
