International Women’s Day is one of the most important events in the Truffle yearly calendar, as it gives us the opportunity to celebrate our incredible all-female team while reevaluating our values, standards and what it means to be a woman in 2023.
This year’s official International Women’s Day campaign theme is #EmbraceEquity, which aims to shed light on the differences between equity and equality while emphasising that in 2023, equal opportunities aren’t necessarily enough to create a genuinely fair, inclusive society for all.
How does any meaningful change start?
With education.
With that in mind, let’s break down the differences between equity and equality, and discuss why we’re at the point where the latter is no longer the goal for true female liberation.
Simply put, equality is what happens when everybody (in this case, every gender) is given equal resources and opportunities. Equity is what happens when everybody is given the resources and opportunities they need to reach the same level as others. It acknowledges that everyone has a different starting point — that individual lived experiences must be considered to create a fair solution for all.
In the case of gender, equity is essential not only to level the playing field for each gender, but also to create a fair environment for all women. We must acknowledge the privilege of a white woman versus that of a woman of colour, for instance, to achieve true equity. Similarly, the opportunities provided for trans women in 2023 are not proportionate to those offered to the cis female community. In the words of Naheed Dosani, “Equality is giving everyone a shoe. Equity is giving everyone a shoe that fits.”
So, what does embracing equity mean for brands?
It means using your influence to create actual, tangible change in your industry. It means calling out gender discrimination, challenging stereotypes and creating an inclusive atmosphere that elevates the marginalised. It means being a supportive ally to those with different opportunities to yourself, lifting up the women in your company and helping to create meaningful progress in your immediate community and, consequently, the world at large.
This International Women’s Day, take time to re-evaluate your relationship with the women in your life. Are you actually embracing equity in your work and personal life? Are you being a valuable ally to those less privileged than yourself?
To show your solidarity with this year’s #IWD campaign and become part of the movement, strike the #EmbraceEquity pose and upload your picture to social media. For more information on everything International Women’s Day is doing to support the empowerment of women across the globe, head to their website and get involved.
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