International Women’s Day (IWD) is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. It was officially marked for the first time on 19 March, 1911 in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland and was celebrated by over one million people. Women demanded the right to vote, to fight against sex discrimination in the workplace and to hold public office. In 1913, IWD was recognised in Russia for the first time with women going on strike for ‘Bread and Peace’ demanding the end to World War 1 and the food shortages. The date was 8 March and since then, IWD has been recognised worldwide to celebrate the achievements of those early pioneers.
This year’s IWD campaign looks at how we can all fully #EmbraceEquity. Equity isn’t just a nice-to-have, it’s a must-have.
The IWD 2023 campaign theme drives worldwide understanding why Equal opportunities aren’t enough!
Equality is based on the belief that all people should have the same opportunities for a happy life. Equity is linked to the ideal that success is based on personal efforts and not social status. Is equality enough? Should we look towards equity as a better principle to progress society? Equity acknowledges that people don’t begin life in the same place, and that circumstances can make it more difficult for people to achieve the same goals.
We can all truly embrace equity. It’s not just something we say. It’s not just something we write about. It’s something we need to think about, know, value and embrace. Each one of us can actively support and embrace equity within our own sphere of influence. We can all challenge gender stereotypes, call out discrimination, draw attention to bias, and seek out inclusion. Collective activism is what drives change. From grassroots action to wide-scale momentum, we can all embrace equity.
Forging gender equity isn’t limited to women solely fighting the good fight. Allies are incredibly important for the social, economic, cultural, and political advancement of women. When we embrace equity, we embrace diversity, and we embrace inclusion. We embrace equity to forge harmony and unity, and to help drive success for all. Equality is the goal, and equity is the means to get there.
They are part of our Community Safety Team, also known as our Prevention Team. They work with the local community and vulnerable groups giving fire safety advice through initiatives like our Home Fire Safety visits.
‘We will forge positive visibility for women’.
Hear how she will be embracing equity on #IWD2023 and beyond.
“Being front and center has never really been my thing. However, if by coming forward and being visible inspires more women in operational leadership roles then I am all for it. Firefighting is no longer a male only profession, being inclusive and diverse is so important for the success and future of our Service. We should be teaching our young girls they can be firefighters and encouraging female Firefighters to believe they will make great Crew commanders. I will #embraceequity by forging positive visibility for women in the Fire Service.”
Our Public Safety Administrator about why embracing equity is so important for our service.
“I truly believe everyone should be treated fairly in every situation regardless of their background. Celebrating women’s achievements and supporting initiatives that promote equity can only improve the service. The more diverse and inclusive we become the better equipped we are to service our community.”
We’re Recruiting Firefighters!
Can you keep your cool when things heat up?
Can you show empathy, compassion and adaptability?
Are you looking for a rewarding career with great development opportunities?
Are you ready to help protect your community?
Diversity in key to our service’s success. Now more then ever we need Women to step, step forward and step into the role of a Firefighter!
We welcome applicants from all walks of life, backgrounds shapes and sizes. Previous successful applicants have been from cabin crew, armed forces, teachers, retail workers, care workers and gardeners to name a few. You have the skills we need to make Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes the safest place in the UK to live, work and travel.
Our recruitment will be open until the 26 March 2023. Click here to go to the Wholetime Firefighter job advert where you can find out more information about the role and apply online.
