International Women’s Day – Glossary #AccelerateAction

IWD 2025 campaign theme is 'Accelerate Action'. Collectively, we can Accelerate Action for gender equality. 

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

"Accelerate Action" is a compelling theme for International Women's Day (IWD) 2025 because it emphasises the urgency of making faster, more effective strides toward gender equality.

#ChangeTheScript #BeAnAlly

Conversation starter:"What if different genders switched for a day?" (gender stereotypes) 

International Women’s Day Glossary 

Gender Roles - noun [countable]: in society they refer to how we're expected to act, speak, dress, groom, and conduct ourselves based upon our assigned sex at birth. For example, girls and women are generally expected to dress in typically feminine ways and be polite, accommodating, and nurturing. Boys and men are expected to be strong. As you can see, gender roles are largely based on stereotypes. 

Images of men and women in the media in general and in social media in particular, are very often based on stereotypical roles of males and females in our society. Because stereotyping can affect how yoy feel about yourself and how you relate to others, it's important that you learn to recognise, identify and understand gender stereotypes in different media.

equality - noun [uncountable]: the state of being equal, especially in having the same rights, status, and opportunities 

Example: The country is committed to sexual and racial equality. 

inequality noun - [countable/uncountable]: a situation in which people are not equal because some groups have more opportunities, power, money, etc. than others 

Example: There are still great gender-based inequalities in terms of salary  across the country. 

Equity - noun [uncountable]: Equity recognises that each person has different circumstances and allocates the exact resources and opportunities needed to reach an equal outcome. So, what's the difference with equality, then? Equality means each individual or group of people is given the same resources or opportunities, no matter the circumstances. 

Example: Although equity and equality are often used interchangeably, they don’t mean the same thing. Equality is the end goal – equity is how you get there. Giving women equal rights is not enough in itself to close the 132-year global gender gap.

expectation - noun [countable/uncountable]: the belief that something will happen. 

Example: The 8M demonstration set off with high expectations of success. 

highlight - verb [transitive]: to describe something in a way that makes people notice it and think about it. 

Example: The case highlights the need for an adequate gender equality plan.