I’m breaking up with International Women’s Day….

I used to love international women’s day. I used to love the events that brought fabulous women together to celebrate their fabulousness. I loved listening to different speakers and hearing about their career journey. I loved the opportunity to get dressed up and attend lunches and morning and afternoon teas, and breakfasts and cocktail events.

Hell, one year, the year I moved back to Singapore and had no job (and therefore no events to attend), I created my own event. It was lovely. A room full of fabulous women in a lovely venue at the gorgeous Singapore Botanic Gardens. A beautiful lunch with two incredible and engaging speakers. That event actually cost me money to put one. I didn’t mind though because I was doing something great for women.

But alas I have fallen out of love with international women’s day over the past few years and it’s time to break-up. As with any relationship break-up there are always things that aren’t working.

I’m sick of events that appreciate women by giving them flowers or other tokenistic gifts (purple IWD cupcakes anyone?). Women would like equal pay for equal work.  

I’m sick of events full of women and no men. Women alone can’t #breakthebias of workplaces that men created, and that men have a vested interest in maintaining. Women want the same opportunities for development and progression as men.

I’m sick of events that do have men speaking about topics they have no idea about. One internal event I attended, a woman in the audience asked about whether women at the company would have a job when they returned from maternity leave. “Of course”, the male leader responded. “We would never sack someone while on maternity leave”. A month before we had done just that, which was why the question was asked.  Women want to have children without the fear of them losing their job.

I’m sick of events that make a fuss once a year about women but nothing happens the rest of the year. Women want to be seen and heard throughout the year.

I’m sick of events that don’t pay women to speak on their panels. If companies are serious about women in their businesses and helping them to progress, they need to recognise the capability and experiences of speakers they invite to events.

I’m sick of events that get organised at the last minute. International women’s day is on the same day every year but many organisations leave it to the last minute. This year I had 2 external people contact me (who I don’t know) through LinkedIn. The first was looking for leaders in my business to speak at their events and the second was asking me to be on a panel.  There was no way I could be prepared and organise either of those requests with a week’s notice, even if I had wanted to. And I didn’t want to.

And I’m sick of the stupid poses we are supposed to do each year and post on social media and other sites (as recommended by International Women’s Day). When would men EVER do such stupid poses and ask others to do the same and take photos? Women want to be taken seriously. Each year these poses erode the seriousness of the bias that women deal with day-in and day-out.

So International women’s day it’s time to break up with you. This relationship is not serving me, or women anymore.  

Lisa xx