Happy International Women’s Day 2024
March 8, 2024
Happy International Women’s Day to all our wonderful female clinical research nurses, AHP’s, PI’s and Clinical Leads.
International Women’s Day, A history
In the early 1900’s great unrest and critical debate was occurring among women. Female oppression and inequality were spurring women to become more vocal and active in campaigning for change. Then in 1908, 15,000 women marched through New York City demanding shorter hours, better pay and voting rights.
In 1911 International Women’s Day was honoured for the first time. However IWD was not marked by the United Nations until 1975
Facts:
- Before 1974 women weren’t allowed to have a bank account or apply for credit by themselves. The Fair Credit Opportunity Act in 1974 made it illegal for financial institutions to discriminate against an applicants gender.
- Before 1977 women had no legal protections from sexual harassment at work and sexual harassment was not considered an illegal offence. The Worker Protection Act an amendment of the Equality Act ensures employers must take reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace. It was only introduced in 2010.
- Before 1978 women could be fired because they were pregnant. A receptionist in California who lost her job after having a baby filed a lawsuit which led to the Pregnancy Discrimination Act.
- Before 2020, women could not marry other women in Norther Ireland, same sex marriage has only been legal in the USA since 2016 and in the UK since 2014.
- In 2018 several states in the USA lacked clear legislation protecting chest or breast feeding parents from Obscenity laws.
Year on year, IWD is gathering momentum and increasing in status. However there is more work to be done. According to the Trades Union Congress (TUC) there is still a gender pay difference of 14.3%. An independently commissioned report in 2023 on mothers in the workplace found they made 24% less per hour than fathers in the workplace.
So make a difference, think globally and act locally.
There’s a space and place for everyone to help fight the good fight so make everyday International Women’s Day.
Do your bit to ensure that the future for girls is bright, equal, safe, and rewarding.
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