Pink icing on a cupcake isn’t gender equality: Gippsland Women’s Health urges organisations to take real action towards a gender equal future this International Women’s Day on 8 March 2023.
In recent years, the purpose of International Women’s Day (IWD) has been diluted with organisations celebrating with tokenistic “pink-washing” activities – such as morning teas, free cupcakes or changing their logo pink – with the aim to enhance their profile instead of genuinely committing to actions to achieve gender equality. Whilst these actions are often done with good intentions, it’s time we left pink-washing in the past.
GWH want all women and members of our community to feel free to participate in all aspects of life – free from discrimination, harassment and violence. Women and girls in Gippsland remain disproportionally disadvantaged by the gendered impacts of health, wellbeing, and safety inequality.
IWD is a reminder to improve how we recognise women for their achievements, properly acknowledge their contributions, and review workplace policies and processes that can help drive gender equality in our organisations and communities.
A recent national survey revealed that almost 7 in 10 women don’t feel represented at Australian IWD events or in the media*. Among the groups who feel underrepresented:
- 4 in 5 are women of colour
- 75% of people with a disability
- 79% of culturally and linguistically diverse women
- 79% of LGBTQIA+ people
We encourage organisations to adopt the UN theme DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality. We urge them to listen to diverse voices including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, women with disabilities, older women, the LGBTQIA+ community, and women from migrant and refugee backgrounds.
Take action in highlighting and sharing their technological contributions or showcase how innovative technologies have helped combat discrimination or marginalisation.
GWH and IWD 2023
GWH will be supporting and attending events in Gippsland that support and uplift women in their profession and their community.
You will find us celebrating women and their accomplishments here:
- 7 March – Djirra Sister’s Day Out, Morwell
- 8 March – Women in Policing Forum: Empowerment and Connection | Guest speaker: Melanie Brown, Regional Manager Health Promotion and Prevention of Violence (internal event only)
- 8 March – Federation University, Churchill – CEO Kate Graham Keynote Speaker – CEO (internal event only)
- 9 March – Women in Gippsland x Baw Baw Shire, with special guest Clare Bowditch – visit the GWH stall from 5pm for free resources, giveaways and to find out more about what we do.
