In the College of Technology we have made “good” progress over the last few years with increasing the number of women faculty, staff, and students. However, we need to redouble our efforts and find innovative ideas that will result in “great” progress. We are committed to diversity and inclusion in the college and have a number of initiatives underway. Let’s use International Women’s Day as a rallying point for our efforts. Shown below is some background on International Women’s Day which has a very good summary of the day.
“International Women’s Day on March 8 is a big, beautiful celebration of women’s strengths and achievements. It’s honored in many different ways around the world. It’s lauded by women’s groups, and the date is commemorated at the United Nations. In China and 14 other countries, people get the day off work; in Bosnia and Italy women are given flowers by their brothers, husbands and fathers; and in Cameroon, women dance in the streets showing off outfits made from Women’s Day fabric.
The UN explains it perfectly as, “the story of ordinary women as makers of history; it is rooted in the centuries-old struggle of women to participate in society on an equal footing with men”. It’s a day that’s as relevant today, as it was when it was first marked in 1911. Back then, an impressive one million women and men attended rallies in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland all demanding the right for women to vote, hold public office, work and have equal pay.
But while it is a day of celebration, it’s also a rallying cry. It’s a time to ask ourselves big, important questions about how a woman’s life really compares to that of a man’s. And not just here; but all around the world. Because although impressive life-changing advances have been made since that momentous day in 1911, there’s still quite a way to go.”
