International Women’s Day – March 8 – a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women and encourage women as they work towards gender equality. It is a time for reflection on progress made, to recognize the role of those influential in women’s movements throughout history, call attention to gender disparity in society today, and work toward positive change advancing women.
The Creation of International Women’s Day
It all began 166 years ago on this exact day when female textile workers marched in protest of unfair working conditions and unequal rights for women. It was one of the first organized strikes by working women. Just over 50 years later, on March 8, 1908, female workers marched through New York City to protest child labor, sweatshop working conditions, and demand women’s suffrage. In 1910, March 8 began being annually observed as International Women’s Day.
This year’s theme: #EmbraceEquity
Each year, International Women’s Day is given a global theme. This year, the theme is #EmbraceEquity.
While similar to equality, gender equity is a different concept. Gender equality provides men and women with the same opportunity, whereas gender equity considers the respective needs for men and women that are necessary for full gender equality. This acknowledges the different rights, benefits, and obligations of men and women. Equality is the end goal; equity is the means to get there.
Join in on this year’s theme by sharing a photo of yourself giving equity a huge embrace with the hashtags #EmbraceEquity and #IWD2023!
Celebrating International Women’s Day at Penn Community Bank
With special attention today and throughout Women’s History Month, we recognize the strengths of our female team members and the unique skills and perspectives they bring to Penn Community Bank. Throughout March, we are spotlighting the stories of female team members and highlighting topics related to the cause, such as working mothers.
We encourage team members to show their support for women by wearing the colors of International Women’s Day – purple, green, and white. Purple symbolizes justice, dignity, and loyalty, green represents hope, and white signifies purity.
Penn Community Bank’s Women’s Employee Resource Group (ERG), led by Senior Marketing Manager Natalie Taptykoff, works to cultivate an inclusive environment that supports and encourages women to advance their skills and leadership potential through connection, mentorship, collaboration, and discussion. Now with over one year of meetings and dozens of team members strong, the impact of the Women’s ERG is evident in the connection and growth among female employees.
