International Women’s Day 2022

To commemorate this year’s International Women’s Day, we asked our crew what IWD means to them and what it means in their home country. Here’s what they said!

Name: Gilly Fogg

Country: Ireland

What does International Women’s Day mean to you? 

“My mother and my three sisters have a tradition of toasting Mary Robinson, the first woman to become President of Ireland. Mary Robinson was a hugely inspiring figure for ‘Mna na hEireann’ (the Women of Ireland). My mum was able to see a woman of her own age reject the pressure to stay at home and instead pursue a career as a lawyer and then as a politician. She let us all know that women are capable of not only ‘rocking the cradle, but of rocking the system’. When we watched her acceptance speech, we felt that we could do anything that we set our hearts to. Soon after Mary Robinson became President, my mum enrolled in University and began studying for her degree. Inspiration in action! You can watch President Robinson’s acceptance speech here.”

Name: Matilde Sousa

Country: Portugal

What does International Women’s Day mean to you and in your home country? 

“International Woman’s Day is not celebrated enough around the world. It is sad that religious figures (some even fictional) are more celebrated in my own country than than woman are. Almost nothing happens in this day where I come from, it’s a day like any other unless for a few shops who sometimes want to profit from it. But again, since I’m an immigrant I have not spent this day in my country for a long time, maybe it has changed. It is sad that some people think these day should not even exist, or even care that it does. This day in my experience creates more animosity than good sometimes, especially from people who don’t believe in the values and social issues this day represents.”

Name: Marty Broski

Country: Poland

What does International Women’s Day mean to you and in your home country? 

“Women’s Day is celebrated in all institutions and households. Schools and Kindergardens usually prepare a show, or assembly. The main message that Women’s Day carries in Poland is to honour and express gratitude towards women, whether in a work environment or household. The most common way to celebrate this day is to gift women in your life tulips (at least from the region I’m from).”

Name: Louise Flannery

Country: Ireland

What does International Women’s Day mean to you and in your home country? 

“It is a day to mark women’s solidarity and inspire women to celebrate their achievements. As women, we need to do our bit to ensure that the future for girls is bright, equal, safe and rewarding. ‘Here’s to strong women, may we know them, may we be them, may we raise them'”

Name: Silke Czarny

Country: Germany

What does International Women’s Day mean to you and in your home country? 

“Very little. What is between my legs doesn’t define a lot of my life, if I don’t want it to.”

Name: Andrea Cataño Pulgarín

Country: Colombia

What does International Women’s Day mean to you and in your home country? 

“Strength. I come from a country that has strong roots forged by the mothers in each generation. That’s the reason why I always use my 2 last names as they are from my mom and my grandmother. Colombia is a country that is very family-centered, and at the head of the table there’s always a woman.”

Name: Claire Finn

Country: Ireland

What does International Women’s Day mean to you and in your home country? 

“Having lived, travelled and worked in over 30 countries, I have seen first hand how the birth of baby girls is still considered to be less important than the birth of baby boys. IWD is important worldwide to highlight that girls born into this world have as much right to follow their dreams as boys. Even if they later decide that they would like to be known as ‘they’ and not ‘she’.”

Name: Sarah Maher

Country: Ireland

What does International Women’s Day mean to you and in your home country? 

“For me, International Women’s Day is a day to remember all those who have fought for the rights of women around the world. It is also a day to remember that the fight is not over. Progress has been made, but there’s still work to be done, and on a global scale there are huge disparities.”

Name: Marie Ravoavison

Country: France

What does International Women’s Day mean to you and in your home country? 

“In France Women’s Day is actually called “International Woman’s Rights Day” but is often shortened for a simple “Women’s Day”. I personally make a point of reminding people that it is not just a celebration of women, but a reminder that the fight for equality is not over. And I make that distinction as well cause I see too many brand using it as a marketing opportunity to make more money rather than paying their women employees the same as their men employees. Hopefully one day this day will not be needed anymore, as it would means that we got the equality treatment we all deserve.”

Here’s to IWD 2022. #BreakTheBias!