Amelia Earhart. Malala Yousafzai. Florence Nightingale. Madame Curie. Mother Teresa. These are famous women, pioneers in their own right. But what about so many women most of us have never heard of, because women pioneers have been overlooked throughout the years? Jackie Cochran, first woman to break the sound barrier, trained by Chuck Yeager. Nadezhda Popova who flew 852 missions for the Russians against the Nazis in World War II (Hero of the Soviet Union). Junko Tabie, Japanese mountaineer, author and teacher, first woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest and first woman to ascend the Seven Summits, climbing the highest peak on every continent. Rosalind Franklin, the chemist known for discovering the double helix structure of DNA.

The point is, women are under-acclaimed. That is in part, what International Women’s Day is all about. This year, the theme is “Inspire Inclusion.” When we inspire others to understand and value women’s inclusion, we forge a better world. And when women themselves are inspired to be included, there’s a sense of belonging, relevance, and empowerment. To inspire inclusion means to celebrate diversity and empowerment on International Women’s Day 2024 and beyond.¹

International Women’s Day (IWD) is a global celebration of the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. Each year, March 8th serves as a powerful reminder of the progress made towards gender equality and highlights the work that still needs to be done.²

This year’s campaign theme underscores the crucial role of inclusion in achieving gender equality. It calls for action to break down barriers, challenge stereotypes, and create environments where all women are valued and respected. Inspire Inclusion encourages everyone to recognize the unique perspectives and contributions of women from all walks of life, including those from marginalized communities.³

One of the key pillars of Inspire Inclusion is the promotion of diversity in leadership and decision-making positions. Women, especially those belonging to underrepresented groups, continue to face barriers when seeking leadership roles. By championing inclusion, organizations and communities can harness the full potential of diverse perspectives, leading to better decision-making and innovation.⁴

Regardless of where you live, gender equality is a fundamental human right. Advancing gender equality is critical to all areas of a healthy society, from reducing poverty to promoting the health, education, protection and the well-being of girls and boys.⁵

Nikken celebrates International Women’s Day every day! Won’t you join us and help to inspire inclusion?

1, 2, 3, 4 https://www.internationalwomensday.com/Missions/20202/What-does-it-mean-to-truly-inspire-inclusion

5 https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/gender-equality/