Today is International Women’s Day - a global event celebrating women and the women’s rights movement.
The focus of the day is to raise awareness and bring attention to issues such as gender equality, reproductive rights, and violence and abuse against women.
While women make up around 50% of the population, not enough is done to uphold our achievements, and recognise the challenges we face.
Embracing equity
The official theme for this year’s International Women’s Day celebrations is #EmbraceEquity.
‘Equity’ differs from ‘equality’ in that people aren’t just given the exact same resources or opportunities, but instead diverse individual lived experiences are considered, and resources and opportunities are allocated as needed — in a way that reaches an equal outcome for all.
This theme encourages us to shift our focus to treating everyone fairly, rather than equally. Equity is a long-term and sustainable solution to address imbalanced social systems.
The International Women’s Day website asks us to ‘Imagine a gender equal world. A world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination. A world that's diverse, equitable, and inclusive. A world where difference is valued and celebrated. Together we can forge women's equality. Collectively we can all #EmbraceEquity.’
Councillor Steph Powell, Co-chair of the Tourism, Equalities, Communities & Culture Committee, said: “As a woman, I’m proud to support International Women’s Day. It’s an important reminder that there’s still work to do address bias and discrimination against women here and around the world.
“It’s a time to celebrate women's many achievements, some of which are rarely talked about or celebrated. More importantly, it’s about continually raising awareness against misogyny wherever we find it, and for men and boys to look to change their change behaviours towards women and girls.
“One of the biggest areas of gender inequality around the world is found in the workplace. On average, women still earn 24% less than men, and at the current rate of progress it will take 170 years to close this gap.
“Here in the UK, income inequality is among the highest in the developed world and evidence shows this is bad for almost everyone.
“In the current economic climate, women as a whole are at much greater risk of poverty and much more likely to be impacted by spikes in inflation.
“Women make up half the planet. I ask that all join the call to continue to strive for an equal outcome, which is long overdue.”
International Women’s Day events in Brighton & Hove
International Women’s Day 2023 with Brighton Women’s Centre
10am to 4pm, Saturday 11 March at Brighton Dome, Church Street, Brighton, BN1 1UE
Brighton Women’s Centre (BWC) hosts the city’s largest annual International Women’s Day Celebration in partnership with Brighton Dome and Brighton & Hove Museums.
The free inclusive event aims to celebrate and inspire women as well as raise awareness of BWC and their work supporting vulnerable women across Sussex.
Join them for a day of uplifting and inclusive discussions, workshops, talks, arts and crafts, music, dance, causes and campaigns.
Find more information on Brighton Women’s Centre International Women's Day 2023 event on the Brighton Dome website.
Kickass Women at PLATF9RM
10am to 5pm, Saturday 11 March at PLATF9RM, Hove Town Hall, Church Road, Hove, BN3 2AF
PLATF9RM presents an event to explore the many complexities of gender in the modern world and position feminism as a force for the good of everyone.
The event will include a wide variety of speakers and panels, exploring themes such as the meaning of equity and how it is being embraced by tomorrow’s leaders, how to flip the stats on gender for good, and how the patriarchy is damaging to men as well as women and why feminism is a force for good.
The event includes inspiring keynotes a workshop and panel, a breakfast lunch and canapés from local businesses including The Flour Pot Bakery, Yolk & Cielo, and pop-ups throughout the day from Brighton & Hove’s artists and makers.
Visit PLATF9RM’s website for more information.
More information
You can find more information and events on the Brighton International Women's Day website.