It’s nearly the 8th of March – International Women’s Day – and yet this year the conversation feels particularly complex as we are seeing women’s rights challenged and, in some cases, rolled back.
There is no denying that gender inequality remains a significant global problem.
International Women’s Day is a day for celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievement of women, as well as a call to action to advance gender equality.
Every year companies across many industries share posts celebrating the women in their organisations, retailers run themed promotions and brands highlight their commitments to equality. Yet the attention often fades quickly once the day has passed.
This isn’t to say that International Women’s Day isn’t valuable – it is. But when celebration isn’t paired with sustained effort, it feels tokenistic.
So what about the other 364 days a year?
The challenges that women are facing right now
Women’s rights are currently experiencing increasing backlash, it’s hard to ignore when it is shared across the news regularly. And nor should we ignore it.
UN Women issued a global statement, sharing that “justice systems meant to uphold the rights and the rule of law are failing women and girls everywhere. Women globally hold just 64 per cent of the legal rights of men, exposing them to discrimination, violence and exclusion at every stage of their lives”
At the moment, women are hearing of increasing risk to their body autonomy and reproductive rights, worrying about their physical safety, seeing equality bodies be torn apart in various settings and there is a general feeling of things turning backwards.
Challenges in the workforce
The focus of IWD is often on the corporate side, and rightly so because representation within the workplace often falls short but is so deeply vital.
There is still a significant gender pay gap within the UK – 12.8% in all employees, 6.9% in full-time workers – when there should not be a gap at all. In 2025, Equal Pay Day in the UK fell on 22nd November, marking the date in which women effectively work for free due to the pay gap.
In addition, when building their own companies, female founders face significant funding gaps, with all-female teams receiving only 2.3% of venture capital deployment, compared to 83.6% which went to all-male founding teams.
Challenges with safety
In the UK, the epidemic of violence against women and girls was reported to be worsening in 2025. Globally, UN Women reported that it is estimated that 1 in 3 women have experienced violence. Moreover, in 2024, 50,000 women and girls were killed by their intimate partners or other family members globally.
Women struggle to feel safe in many settings – whether it is walking home, in the workplace or in a country torn apart by violence.
Gender inequality and misogyny directly contribute to the violence that women experience.
Challenges with healthcare
Women experience a gender gap in health and healthcare, and unsurprisingly there are serious implications. In the EU, findings suggest that whilst women outlive men, they spend years with poor health, facing many challenges such as delayed diagnoses, pain bias and research disparities.
It would be remiss to not mention that for ethnic minority groups, the experience and outcomes are even more concerning. 1 in 4 women in England are from ethnic minority groups, and their risk to poor health and health inequalities starts early and is apparent throughout their life course.
Healthcare is both deeply gendered, and further inequalities exist depending ethnicity.
Why we need more than just a day of recognition
If we asked women what they want, it likely wouldn’t be a day of virtue signalling and cupcakes with branded flags in. What many women want to see is:
- Equality in healthcare – access to healthcare, minimised medical dismissal, research centred around women and all groups to be taken seriously
- Gender representation in the workplace – access to the same opportunities as men whether that is based on leadership roles or VC funding
- To be safe in ALL settings
- Autonomy over their own bodies and reproductive rights
- Pay parity – not working for part of the year for free due to the gap that exists
We want to see sustained action from those around us, those we purchase from and those who employ us. In an article from King’s College London, rightly so they share “we are all responsible for gender equality. While it is hopefully a truism that our concern gender equality should be universal and enacted every day, IWD is arguably an opportunity for us all, including businesses, to take stock and reflect on gender equality”
Systemic change does not come from a single day, it comes from continued, collective action from all parties – otherwise it is just another way of upholding the current system.
To address these inequalities – across all areas – it requires sustained investment, from the private and public sectors, and collaborations with organisations – like social enterprises – who are actively working towards tackling systemic inequalities.
When we come together, we can tackle challenges more effectively and better serve those within our communities. Partnership is key to changing things, and an important way to deliver meaningful change.
We asked women in our community what we can do beyond 8th March
“Give knowledge freely and open the door to opportunity. When access isn’t restricted, we gain better ideas, stronger businesses, and real progress towards equality.”
Emma Wallace
“For me, giving to gain for gender equality means being intentional about the opportunities we create for others every day. It can be as simple as recommending a talented woman for a role, making space for different voices in conversations, or mentoring someone who is earlier in their journey. Small actions done consistently can shift culture in a big way. Gender equality does not move forward only through big campaigns or a single day of recognition. It grows through everyday decisions to support, advocate for, and uplift women in our communities and workplaces.”
Yomi Olusunle
“I think it is about questioning things – giving yourself the freedom to ask and question the why behind things. Questioning why things “have always been done that way” when it directly impacts equality, outwardly questioning decisions made which you know aren’t right, and having an inquisitive approach with a constant curiosity about how things can be done better. There is a lot of room for improvement – way beyond just the 8th March – and I think we all need to make sure we aren’t just accepting the uncomfortable reality for women.”
Kassie Barker-Jones
“As a working professional who comes from a predominantly male-led leadership background, it is very encouraging to see how local communities in the heart of London are prospering through female-led initiatives. As a community-driven ecosystem and workspace, we should continually support these efforts by giving them visibility, offering a platform, and extending community goodwill to organisations that foster partnerships and empower one another.
Empowerment begins with showing genuine and unconditional care for communities in need, whether this is in your workplace, school, volunteering centre, or business. Start thinking about the kind of impact we can create by extending a small sprinkle of generosity and compassion to those who need it most. Give with the right intention, and you will see great Gain through meaningful impact that pays forward to the community at large.”
Bristal Leung
International Women’s Day matters because it shines a needed spotlight on inequality. But real progress happens in the everyday actions that follow – in the opportunities we create, the voices we amplify and the systems we choose to challenge.
Gender equality will not be achieved in a single day of recognition, but it can be achieved through sustained effort, collaboration and accountability across the other 364 days of the year.
About Impact Hub
At Impact Hub London, we believe progress happens when people come together to build solutions. As part of the global Impact Hub network – a community spanning more than 100 hubs worldwide – we support entrepreneurs and organisations tackling some of society’s most pressing challenges, from inequality and climate change to access to opportunity.
Through our programmes, partnerships and collaborative spaces, we help purpose-driven founders access the resources, networks and support they need to scale their impact. Many of the social enterprises in our community are actively working to improve outcomes for women and girls, whether through health innovation, economic empowerment or creating more inclusive systems. You can read about some the work our global hubs have done here: https://impacthub.net/our-work/
Our latest blog on She Believes She Can – one of our participants – is a great example of how you can help address the systemic issues that impact women. You can read more about SBSC here.
