“The story of women’s struggle for equality belongs to no single feminist nor to any one organization but to the collective efforts of all who care about human rights.” Gloria Steinem, feminist, journalist, and activist.

About the Day

International Women’s Day is a global tribute to the achievements towards gender equality, and it serves as a call for action to work towards just, inclusive societies and empowering individuals, including those at high risk of exclusion. Throughout much of the 20th century, International Women’s Day was a grassroots celebration and a platform for social justice. 1975 International Women’s Day became official, and the United Nations adopted the first theme in 1996, “Celebrating the Past, Planning for the Future.” It is essential to highlight that acknowledgement of privileges and oppression not only women but all humans with their facets and intersections of all aspects of their identity.

2024 Theme

In 2024, the United Nations’ official theme is “Invest in Women. Accelerate Progress”, which is based on the priority theme of the 68th Commission on the Status of Women – where representatives of Member States, UN entities and ECOSOC-accredited non-governmental organizations (NGOs) come together – about “Accelerating the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls by addressing poverty and strengthening institutions and financing with a gender perspective.”. This year’s theme is aligned with the demands of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women 2023: ending gender-based violence through adequate funding. With investments to advance prevention programmes, implementing effective policies and providing support services to address violence against women and girls can aid in ending gender-based violence. Gender-responsive budgeting is a strategy that aims to create a budget that benefits everyone. The strategy considers and analyses the diverse needs of each person and strives for a fair distribution of resources.

Fostering Equality: CHARM-EU’s dedication to gender equity in education, science, and society

Inclusiveness is one of the core values of CHARM-EU. The CHARM-EU Master’s programme addresses discussion on gender inequalities and promotes human rights perspectives across the programme. On 5th March 2024, we are delighted to have a Panel discussion on: “Gender Inequalities in Food Systems” together with Emmanuelle Bouquet, Zibusiso Dube, Roselilly N. Ushewokunze, Christelle Sabiteka, Viktor Gábor Mihucz and Agnes Sarolta Fazekas-Vinkovits together with the active participation with students at the Food Track.

Shaping minds and hearts by sharing experiences

On the occasion of the Day, CHARM-EU is delighted to share the message by the Members of the CHARM-EU DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion) Team: Andrea Bähr (M.A), Head of the office of the Women’s Representative, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Germany and Dr. Isabel Fraas, Head of the Diversity Management JMU, Gender Consulting for Research Alliances.

Why is it essential to advocate for more gender equality in Academia in 2024? Haven’t we already achieved greater equity?

Andrea and Isabel shared: “We say: no, we are still a long way from reaching our goal. In Europe, women are still notoriously underrepresented in academic leadership positions; academic careers are difficult to plan and, therefore, tend to be male-dominated. There are still inequalities, obstacles and challenges for women – which we must address decisively together. Women are underrepresented at the highest academic level, with around a quarter of full professorships (27%). Women are also less likely to be employed as scientists and engineers (41%) and are underrepresented among the self-employed in the fields of science, engineering and ICT (25%). [1] We must not be satisfied with the status quo as it is. To mark International Women’s Day, we would like to highlight some of the most crucial reasons why the continuous drive for greater gender equality is worthwhile and how we can get closer to this goal all together:

1. Equitable Opportunities: Ensuring gender equality means providing equal opportunities for all individuals, regardless of gender. When everyone has a fair chance to pursue education, research, and leadership roles, it fosters a more just and inclusive academic environment.
2. Diverse Perspectives: Gender diversity enriches academic discourse. Different perspectives, experiences, and approaches contribute to more robust research, innovative solutions, and well-rounded teaching. A lack of gender equality limits this diversity and hinders academic progress.
3. Addressing Bias: Academia, like any other field, is not immune to biases. Gender bias can affect hiring decisions, promotions, and research funding. Striving for equality helps challenge and rectify these biases, promoting a merit-based system.
4. Role Models and Representation: Visible representation matters. When women hold prominent positions as professors, researchers, and administrators, they serve as role models for aspiring female academics. Representation inspires future generations and breaks down stereotypes.
5. Research Impact: Gender-balanced research teams produce more impactful work. Diverse teams bring varied expertise, creativity, and problem-solving skills. Inclusion leads to better research outcomes and broader societal impact.
6. Healthier Work-Life Balance: Gender equality supports work-life balance. Policies such as parental leave, flexible work hours, and childcare facilities benefit both men and women. A supportive environment enables academics to thrive personally and professionally.
7. Ethical Imperative: As a matter of ethics and social justice, we must actively dismantle barriers that hinder women’s progress in Academia. It aligns with broader global efforts toward equality and human rights.

Today, we are calling on men and people who identify as men, in particular, to take a visible and audible stand for gender equality and to take a leading role in this cause. We can achieve our goals much faster if more men support us.”

Join the awareness-raising by sharing this piece and using hashtags. #InternationalWomensDay #IWD2024 #WomensDay #WomenEmpowerment #GenderEquality #InvestInWomen.

References:

• International Women’s Day | United Nations
• Intersectional feminism: what it means and why it matters right now | UN Women – Headquarters
• European Union objectives for gender equality in research and innovation | European Institute for Gender Equality (europa.eu)
• [1] European Union objectives for gender equality in research and innovation | European Institute for Gender Equality (europa.eu)

Credit: The contribution was prepared by Members of the CHARM-EU DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion) Team: Andrea Bähr (M.A), Head of the office of the Women’s Representative, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Germany and Dr. Isabel Fraas, Head of the Diversity Management JMU, Gender Consulting for Research Alliances and Enikő Bíró and Lisa Rozmanicz, ELTE BGGYK student volunteers in collaboration with Agnes Sarolta Fazekas-Vinkovits, Leader of CHARM-EU Inclusiveness (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) Team.