What Women’s History Month Means to Us
March 18, 2022
Since 2014, InHerShoes has mobilized thousands of women to be 1% more courageous
while positively impacting their communities in the process.
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With International Women's Day, Women’s Equal Pay Day, and the celebration of Women's History Month in March, the topic of gender equity and progress is, of course, on our minds. However, at InHerShoes, we are committed to an evergreen celebration of women and advancement all year long, not just during a single day or a given month in a year. 🗓️
We’re proud that active members of our community take everyday moments, in their daily lives, to reflect on the past to solidify important actions for the future. In a natural course of discussions, we acknowledge how far we have come, how far we have to go, and identify tangible steps to continue breaking down barriers.❌
This year’s International Women’s Day campaign theme is #BreakTheBias and it resonates.✔️ It takes courage to recognize bias; challenge assumptions; fight gender stereotypes; ask for more; and assume bigger risks on the path to equity. We celebrate all of this work. 🥳 We take inspiration from the powerful words of Indra Nooyi, former CEO of Pepsico, “Pull up a chair, you belong at the table.” 🪑
Here are some thoughts from our community of catalysts:
What does IWD mean to you in 2022/beyond?
IWD can be so saturated with social media content and messages that it can be hard to focus on any of them. To me, IWD in 2022 and beyond is a good opportunity for gender justice activists to take a step back from social media, celebrate the work they have done all year round, and take care of themselves. For allies, IWD is a good opportunity to research and support movements that are creating a more gender equal world 365 days a year.
What actions are you taking to #BreakTheBias (the IWD theme) this year?
Chalk Back uses street art and social media to #breakthebias every day. There is so much bias surrounding victims/survivors of gender-based harassment and gender-based violence. There is still rampant victim-blaming and shaming directed at those who come forward with their experiences. By telling people (women, girls, and marginalized genders) that their experience is valid, and what happened to them is not okay, we seek to break the bias and de-normalize gender-based violence.
– Sophie Sandberg (she / her / hers), Activist | Organizer | Professional Speaker | Founder, Catcalls of NYC and Chalk Back
What does International Women's Day (IWD) mean to you in 2022/beyond?
The future is female as we continue to close the gender gap. We are unmatched in our resilience and drive to outperform ourselves and gender stereotypes. This means more female representation in STEM and leadership aided by more acceptance and acknowledgment of our contributions from our male counterparts.
What actions are you taking to #BreaktheBias (the IWD theme) this year?
I work to #BreaktheBias through my leadership and performance. I hope to encourage other females around me to take charge and embrace their voice and perspective in male-dominated situations.
- Elizabeth Dubov, Student at University of Pennsylvania, Wharton Women Team Lead
What does IWD mean to you in 2022/beyond?
I've always seen International Women's Day as a day to really reflect on how far the fight towards women's equality has come, but also realize how far we have yet to go. As with any marginalized community, I strongly believe that awareness should continue year-round, but I love to participate in the conversations about celebrating women's achievements and focusing on raising visibility, while also educating on inequalities and allowing allies to learn more about how they can support.
What actions are you taking to #BreakTheBias (the IWD theme) this year?
When some people think of women empowerment, they mistakenly stereotype that it's the fight against men. In reality, empowering women and #BreakingtheBias means to actively provide equal opportunities and voices to women regardless of background, income, race, etc. As I reflect on this year's theme to #BreakTheBias, I will be more mindful of how I can make sure that women around me in the workplace are feeling heard and valued, and receiving the same opportunities as their peers. I will not be afraid to show my voice more and feel worthy in taking up more space, because in my actions in doing so, I would hope to set examples for other women who may feel imposter syndrome or hesitate to move ahead.
– Bidisa Mukherjee, RevOps Analyst, Human Interest
Featured catalysts (left to right) - Row 1: Sophie Sandberg, Elizabeth Dubov; Row 2: Bidisa Mukherjee, Rebeca Hernandez, Camille De La Rosa;
Row 3: Pasha Dahncke, Judith Martinez
What does IWD mean to you in 2022/beyond?
To me, International Women’s Day in the 21st century alludes to coming together as a community to highlight and appreciate women’s vigor and successes in industries where they have long been outnumbered. It has a heartwarming feeling for me because it takes me back to my childhood, where I recall my busy mother attending formal business meetings regularly, inspiring me to strive for greatness!
What actions are you taking to #BreakTheBias (the IWD theme) this year?
This year, my actions to #BreaktheBias include strategic planning and executing end-goals while not allowing any room for anyone who doesn’t benefit me, tell me otherwise! As a Latina college student in tech, I’ve discovered that life is a bumpy road, so preparation and action steps are essential. We’re living in 2022, where anything is possible, so if you have an idea, test it out and see how it goes!
- Rebeca Hernandez, Student at San Francisco State University | Speaker Coordinator, POW SFSU Speaker Series (Providing Opportunity for Women).
What does IWD mean to you in 2022/beyond?
As a Filipina American illustrator and storyteller, I break the bias through my art. My whole creative practice was founded on the idea of “disrupting feeds and coloring the world” in an effort to bring my perspective and experiences to social media 11 years ago. In recent years, I’ve stepped into the role of “artivist,” which is a combination of the words “artist” and “activist.” My illustrations allow me to create and reimagine a softer, more interconnected, and communal world, and if I’m lucky, they might inspire others to build towards a better world for all, too.
What actions are you taking to #BreakTheBias (the IWD theme) this year?
This year, I intend to use my illustrations and social media platform to speak more to different global issues. My hope is that by openly sharing my evolving reflections, I can provide a safe space for my communities to engage with issues outside of our everyday lives and potentially inspire folks to find ways to get involved themselves.
– Camille De La Rosa, Head of Content, InHerShoes Inc. | Freelance Illustrator (@kidcamelll)
What does IWD mean to you in 2022/beyond?
I see IWD as a single point on a long continuum. Every year, we hope to make strides in women’s advancement and we certainly have; specifically measuring progress over a 20 or 30 year-span. With that said, the current pandemic has dramatically set women back juggling a trifecta of demands related to career, childcare and home. The World Economic Forum’s 2021 Gender Gap Report estimated that gender parity is over a lifetime away (135.6 years to be exact) and this clearly shows how much work still needs to be done.
What actions are you taking to #BreakTheBias (the IWD theme) this year?
This year, I intend to use my influence to help #BreaktheBias by mentoring and supporting the talented women within my network; which includes opening doors to coveted jobs; having transparent conversations around pay to inform salary negotiations; and helping women champion their personal and professional accomplishments loudly so that they can soar.
– Pasha Dahncke, Independent Communications Consultant and Voices Catalyst for InHerShoes Inc.
What does IWD mean to you in 2022/beyond?
International Women's Day to me means recognizing women all over the world for who they are as a contribution to society - not despite being a woman, but because of being a woman. Past, present, and future, women are multi-faceted, multi-dimensional, multi-passionate beings. When we recognize the nuances of each woman's experience, we #BreaktheBias of what it means to be a woman and shed light on what's possible simply by being human. When women thrive, we all thrive.
What actions are you taking to #BreakTheBias (the IWD theme) this year?
Actions I’m taking to break the bias is challenging myself to break through my own limiting beliefs I have about myself and what I am capable of, especially as a global citizen. I am also challenging my communities and personal relationships to do the same.
– Judith Martinez, Founder, Chief Catalyst, InHerShoes Inc.
