International Women's Day 2022: Companies getting creative with their celebrations
International Women's Day (IWD) is almost upon us and companies have been coming up with creative ways to mark the occasion.
Every year, the event offers up one day for the world to celebrate the contribution made by females.
The theme of this year‘s IWD is #BreaktheBias, which encourages everyone to help call out gender bias, discrimination and stereotyping in the continuing drive for women's equality. And brands are doing their part.
From giving employees the day off to helping women get back into the workplace, tackling period poverty and shouting about the sisterhood, we've rounded up some of the best creative responses companies have had to this year's theme.
A day off
All 800 staff at women's health company Organon, will get the day off for IWD on 8 March, with the firm issuing a call to action to all employers in the UK to join forces and do the same.
As previous research highlights, women have a terrible tendency of de-prioritising their own health, with one survey revealing that over three quarters (78%) of women put off taking care of their own health because they are too busy looking after their loved ones.
Despite advances in equality, the majority of household chores still fall to women and that women have just 17 minutes to themselves each day on average, with 51% saying that they have no time at all.
In order to recognise the growing health disparities that women face, which have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, Organon wants to address the balance, starting with its own employees.
One employee who is grateful about the move is Michaela Hills, business practices and privacy partner at Organon, who has been caring for her parents for the last five years.
“Sadly, my dad passed away last year and each day that I have with my mother, who has dementia, is so valuable," she says.
"Around these responsibilities, it is always my own personal wellbeing which drops down the priority list, so I feel so grateful to now work for a company which is truly invested in women’s health, and which has created a supportive working environment for all staff.
"Time for myself is rare, so this IWD, I will be using the day, which Organon has gifted us, by going to my son’s music studio and putting in some much-needed practice to up-skill my drumming technique - a new hobby I have recently taken up - because there is more to our wellbeing than just our physical health.”
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Smalls for all
Putting on clean underwear might be something we take for granted but many women in Africa are living in such poor conditions that they only have access to a single pair of knickers, or sometimes none at all.
This year, in honour of the #BreaktheBias theme the team at CLOUD NINE, will be running an internal collection for Smalls For All, a charity which collects underwear to give to adults and children in need in Africa and the UK.
The charity partners with Freedom from Fistula Foundation and Kenya Children’s Homes to help adults and children who can’t afford their own underwear, including fistula patients.
So far this year, the charity has supplied over 50,400 pants, including:
850 pairs of new pants to Freedom for Girls UK, an organisation supplying washable reusable period pads to girls in Kenya and Uganda.
1,500 pairs of new pants to Chifundo UK, an organisation supporting girls in and around Blantyre, Malawi.
1,000 pairs of new pants to Pass it on Trust Uganda, supporting girls and women in Kampala and other remote parts of Uganda.
“Giving pants and bras might seem like a small gesture, but it can make a life-changing difference to women and girls around the world," explains Becky Smith, Group Marketing Manager at CLOUD NINE.
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Breaking down gender stereotypes
The Fawcett Society is raising funds for their Equal Play project, which aims to tackle harmful gender stereotypes.
According to the charity gender stereotypes make women and girls vulnerable, especially those from underrepresented groups. They create barriers to gender equality which start early in life. 60% of parents agree that treating boys and girls differently has negative consequences.
The aim of the campaign is to reach a million people with a national conversation and support 5,000 parents to take action on challenging gender stereotypes in their families.
"We have to make women and girls visible when, because of pre-existing bias, the default male will still be the prevailing assumption," Emily Liddle, campaigns manager at the Fawcett Society. "The majority of parents recognise that there is a problem and increasingly they want something different.
"They want to see real change coming from government and companies and need practical help to make changes themselves."
Pre-loved pregnancy active wear
As a maternity and breastfeeding sportswear brand, Natal Active run a pre-loved scheme whereby customers can return their preloved Natal Active gear to be sold on through maternity rental and preloved partner For The Creators. The money raised goes to Women's Aid.
According to research as many as one in three women experience domestic abuse during pregnancy. In fact, pregnancy can be a trigger for domestic abuse and existing abuse may get worse during pregnancy or after giving birth.
Women’s Aid is a national charity working to end domestic abuse against women and children and ensuring violence against women is no longer tolerated and Natal Active are hoping to do their part.
On IWD, the brand will be launching a drop of pre-loved gear to raise more funds for Women’s Aid.
Commenting on the scheme Claire Gleave, founder of Natal Active says: “We are a very small business but are doing what we can to support women suffering domestic abuse - something that is recognised to often be triggered by or exacerbated by pregnancy."
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Tackling period poverty
Despite the UK being one of the most developed countries in the world, there are still thousands of people here who are not able to afford or access period products or menstrual health services and are therefore living in what is known as period poverty.
In 2017, a survey by Plan International UK reported that one in 10 girls had been unable to afford sanitary products; one in seven had to ask to borrow sanitary wear from a friend due to affordability issues; and 1 in 10 had to improvise sanitary wear. It is estimated that currently over 137,000 children across the UK have missed school days due to period poverty.
And the pandemic is likely to have exasperated these statistics.
So this IWD female-run Hey Girls is hoping to help close the period gap and tackle the issue through its Buy One Give One donation scheme, which donates products for every pack sold via community partners to women and girls in need.
This year's #BreakTheBias theme hits close to home for the company, since one of their key missions is to fight for period equality.
"Since we started in 2018, we’ve given away over 20 million period products to people in need to ensure people that need access to quality period products, get them, but there is still more work to be done," explains Celia Hodson, Founder & CEO of Hey Girls.
On a similar theme: eco-friendly menstrual care brand, FLO will be donating 5% of all profits to charities that support women - these include Bloody Good Period who work to end period poverty, and The Orchid Project who work to end FGM.
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Helping women be more career confident
To celebrate IWD Anita Lo, owner of vintage fashion business Clara’s Box has signed up to volunteer with Smart Works to become a mentor and coach other women for job interviews.
The UK-based charity, supported by the Duchess of Sussex, aims to give women the confidence they need to reach their full potential, secure employment, and change the trajectory of their lives.
"The beauty of vintage fashion is that there is a story behind each item, it’s lived another life or other lives, and has been pre-loved," explains Lo. "So this IWD, I’d like everyone to help others to build beautiful memories. For example, by donating a piece of clothing that you once owned, you could be giving someone else another opportunity to love it and help them build their confidence to embark on new adventures – changing their lives forever, for the better."
In a similar vein, fashion accessory business, Custard Cloth, will be donating 15% of all sales on 8th March IWD will go Dress for Success. The charity aims to empower women to achieve economic independence by providing a network of support, professional attire and the development tools to help women thrive in work and in life.
A 'do it for you' day
Tech start up KidCoach is gifting its employees some creative me-time this IWD.
Dad-of-two and founder, Kavin Wadhar understands the pressures his three-strong army of female workers face with the work-life balance, and how they often put others before themselves, so this IWD, he’s decided to allow them the time to think.
“Mothers who use the platform are at the heart of the business and with an all-female team, I thought I would create a ‘do it for you day’," Wadhar explains. "The initiative provides staff with a chance to take some time out as part of their leave and relax. But on the proviso that they bring an idea to the table the following day.
“Taking time out clears the head, reduces stress, improves effectivity and focus and also helps in the creation of new ideas. And that’s something I want my team to do - and empower them to make important decisions.
“I don’t ever want the business to be about me so I know that by giving back to my team it will only boost their productivity."
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Building up the sisterhood
Sisters raising up sisters and future leaders is the overall message for the inspiring campaign CAMFED are running in celebration of IWD this year.
The charity will be asking people across the world to sign its Global Sisterhood Pledge, with those taking part receiving a series of insights, tips and truths from prominent women across the globe, including CNN International anchor Zain Asher, NBC News correspondent Simone Boyce, YouTube visionary Vee Kativhu, and young women leaders and community activists.
CAMFED is a movement for girls’ education and women’s leadership, led by women from disadvantaged backgrounds who, which aims to prove that girls’ education leads to women’s inclusion in policy-making, in health and justice systems, and in the economy.
With COVID-19, climate change and instability pushing millions more girls in marginalised communities out of school, that leadership potential is under increasing threat, something CAMFED wants to tackle, by pledging to support 5 million more girls to go to school within five years (by 2025).
