This year, the theme for International Women’s Day is #Embrace Equity.
Here at Becoming, we #EmbraceEquity by elevating the voices of five organisations who fight for equity for women, in the UK and worldwide.
Equality vs Equity
“Equality means each individual or group of people is given the same resources or opportunities.
Our work here at Becoming is an example of driving equity. Anybody can benefit from the kinds of reflections that we explore on our Becoming Journey. Yet we choose to work with women because they tend to face more challenges, and face them earlier, in their lives and careers.
Amplifying those working for equity
There are many organisations out there fighting for equity for women, across all aspects of life: health, science, economics, and more.
This year for IWD we have chosen five organisations whose work we admire, and whose voice we want to amplify. We have posted about them here on our website, and through our LinkedIn profile.
They are:
Pregnant then Screwed.
Pregnant then Screwed is a charity dedicated to ending the motherhood penalty. They offer free legal advice to women experiencing pregnancy and maternity discrimination. They also campaign tirelessly to influence legislation, to help build a future where women are not penalised for having children.
You can support Pregnant then Screwed in several ways, from social media to support to fundraising and volunteering. Learn more about their work here: https://pregnantthenscrewed.com/
50:50 Parliament
50:50 Parliament empowers, equips and enables women to get involved in politics. In the 100+ years since women have been able to stand for Parliament, fewer than 600 of the 5000+ elected MPs have been women. 50:50 believes that equity comes from equal representation, and men and women working together to build the future.
You can support 50:50 in all the usual ways. But if you, or someone you know, is interested in politics, then why not contact them and find out how you can take it further? Read more about their work here: https://5050parliament.co.uk/
Women for Women International
Women for Women works internationally to help women survivors of war rebuild their lives. During times of conflict, women bear the heaviest burden of violence, poverty and inequality. Gender norms restrict women’s access to education and economic resources, exclude them from decision-making, and expose them to many forms of violence and abuse. Women for Women international targets the most marginalised women who live in extreme poverty and are directly affected by violence and conflict.
Sign up here for Women for Women’s newsletter to learn more about their impactful work and how you can support them: https://womenforwomen.org.uk/get-involved/newsletter
We are Childfree
We are Childfree celebrates childfree lives one story at a time. Their aim is to destigmatise the choice to live childfree, through sharing photos, stories and experiences and promoting bodily autonomy.
You can join their movement by becoming a member of their community, sharing your own stories, or supporting by donating your time or money. Read their amazing stories and learn more about their work here: https://wearechildfree.com/
Women’s Earth Alliance
Women’s Earth Alliance catalyzes women-led, grassroots solutions to protect our environment and strengthen communities from the inside out. Their work identifies grassroots women leaders working on the frontlines to reverse climate change and protect their communities’ natural resources, livelihoods, and health. They invest in their long-term leadership, and in turn these women spread their solutions to many others for years beyond project investments – creating a ripple effect that benefits women’s communities, regions, our Earth, and future generations.
Learn more about their work here: https://womensearthalliance.org/
Who else could we have chosen?
Choosing just five was hard, and there was no fixed selection process or criteria. We went with our own personal judgment about organisations that we admire.
We each had others that we could have added to the list. Alison admires Women’s World Banking and their dedication to the economic empowerment of women. I’m a fan of Caroline Criado Perez’s crusade to include women in data – from recognising heart attacks to snow ploughing icy roads. We debated including organisations related to menstruation, menopause, domestic violence, breast cancer, and many more.
And we are connected to so many organisations who are working to advance women’s careers. For example: Women of Colour in Policing, Women on Boards, Women in Banking and Finance, Lean In – Equity & Sustainability. The list goes on.
Who else would you have chosen? Whose work to fight for equity for women do you admire?