Why do we still need International Women’s Day?
Celebrating International Women’s Day: What I’ve learned and how we can make a difference
I’ll be honest, when I was working in the corporate world, I never really understood why we needed to highlight, support or promote women. In fact, I used to resent it. I worked in the steel industry in a very male-dominated environment and when I was put on Women in Leadership programmes, I felt uncomfortable. I didn’t want my male colleagues to think I was there because I was a woman, I wanted to be there because I’d earned it and because I was their equal.
It’s only now, as I’ve grown older and perhaps a bit “wiser”, as I’ve built a home, a family and my own business, that I truly understand why this support is so important. Being a woman in business isn’t just about showing up and doing the work. It’s navigating societal expectations, judgment and constant criticism, sometimes from the people closest to you.
And don’t even get me started on the guilt. When I’m working, I feel guilty for not being at home and when I’m at home, I feel guilty for not being in my business. I know I’m not alone in this, so many women experience this endless pull between different roles, trying to be the best mum, daughter, wife and business owner all at the same time.
“We need to continue to support and empower women to have the freedom to choose and the chance to be on a level playing field.”
The Reality Check
After 10 years of running LRComms and working with hundreds of women business owners and their teams, I am becoming aware of the gap more than ever. It’s not just about working hard or being good at what you do. There are still deeply engrained challenges, from childcare and flexible working to pay scales, investment opportunities and financial support.
And here’s the thing, this isn’t about criticising men. In fact, I truly believe most men and women would be shocked if they knew the reality. Many, like I used to, believe that we’re all equal now, that highlighting these issues or providing extra support isn’t necessary. But unfortunately, the reality is, we’re not there yet. We need to continue to support and empower women to have the freedom to choose and the chance to be on a level playing field.
A Privileged Perspective
I also want to acknowledge that I write this from a privileged position as a middle-class white woman with a focus on the world of business and while I have faced challenges, I recognise that for many women, especially those from marginalised communities, the barriers are even greater.
The papers this morning covering International Women’s Day are sharing some very scary statistics and updates from all aspects of life and from all around the world, demonstrating why we need more of us to talk about it and bring awareness to it.
“Women are also still disproportionately affected by domestic abuse. In the UK, one in four women will experience domestic abuse in their lifetime, and one woman is killed every five days. These statistics are devastating. And while we have made significant strides in women’s rights and equality, the UK still ranks 18th worldwide for gender parity, according to PwC’s Women in Work Index.”
Source: The Independent
I also feel an enormous sense of responsibility, particularly as a mum to my 10-year-old daughter, to help her navigate the world safely.
The fear I have for her safety, and for all women, goes beyond just career opportunities. How do I teach her to stay safe? To trust her instincts? To pay extra for that taxi, to watch her drink and not put herself in vulnerable situations?
These are conversations we still have to have, and it’s heartbreaking that in 2025, we’ re still teaching women how to avoid danger, rather than addressing the root causes of why these dangers exist in the first place.
So How Can We Make a Difference?
Encourage more women to find their voice and share their stories. The more we talk about our journeys, the more we inspire others to believe in what’s possible. And the more we share our challenges and fears, the more we realise that we’re not alone and that nobody has actually got their shit together like we might think they have.
Ask for the help you need. You don’t have to be a “superhero” 100% of the time and it’s ok to not have all the answers or to admit that you can’t do it all. If you can reframe it, you’ll realise that asking for help isn’t a weakness at all. In fact, it’s actually a gift to the person you’re asking. People will not only respect you more for being honest, but they’ll feel honoured that you trusted them enough to ask.
Collaboration over competition. This absolutely blows my mind and makes me so sad, but one of the biggest struggles women face is other women tearing them down. Whether it’s jealousy, judgment or something else, it’s time to celebrate each other and hold space for each other.
Find your people. Surround yourself with the right people, those who believe in you, encourage you and challenge you. I couldn’t do what I do without my incredible husband, who has had my back from day one. Making sure you have the right support community and safe space is everything.
Model the behaviour we want to see. By being the cheerleader for other women, creating a safe space for honest and vulnerable conversations and by doing more of what we love and showing up fully, we actually give other women permission to do the same.
With this in mind, this week, it was my turn to put myself out of my comfort zone. In my business, I know I can’t encourage my clients to show up, share their stories and do scary things if I don’t do the same.
So a huge thank you to the team at Derbyshire Life magazine for featuring me in their Women in Business piece this month and for hosting such a wonderful lunch this week. It was so good to get out and meet up with so many incredible women.
Help Me Join the Dots
“Research shows that increasing workplace participation rates of women has the potential to boost productivity in the UK economy,” say analysts at PwC. So, this isn’t just a social issue, it’s an economic one too. When women thrive, we all thrive.
Source: The IndependentIf we want to change perceptions, expectations and beliefs, I believe we need to start with the next generation. That’s why I’d love for you to sign up and pledge your support for my Joining the Dots Programme to inspire and empower the next generation to make better choices by sharing our stories, creating opportunities and helping them see what’s possible.
And this isn’t just for young women, it’s for all young people. Because a better future for women doesn’t come from just helping women. We have to shift the way society sees leadership, success and opportunity for everyone.
So, let’s keep talking about it, showing up and encouraging each other to be able to do more of what we love.