Breaking barriers and embracing equity on International Women’s Day

International Women’s Day is a day focused on the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. It’s a call to action for accelerating gender parity. And it’s a day for all of us to come together to celebrate women’s achievements, educate about women’s equality, call for positive change and make the space for colleagues to share their lived experience.  

We’re celebrating this year’s International Women’s Day theme, #embraceequity, with panels hosted by Sarah Hopkins, Director of Technology for Audiology and Domiciliary (UK). Our global panels bring together leaders from across the organization to talk through what equity means for them and how we can do our part in uplifting other women. 

Reflecting on the theme, what does equity mean to you? 

“At its core, equity is about fairness. I also think it’s about being intentional about playing an active role in seeking equity for everyone. It’s about bringing awareness, and removing barriers – both visible and invisible, in order to continue to make progress for all. It we don’t talk about it, it’s difficult to bring change,” shared Catherine Walsh, Marketing Director (Specsavers Canada). 

Equality is based on the belief that everyone should have the same opportunity to be successful and have a productive and enjoyable life. The root of equality is in fairness – where people believe that everyone will be able to achieve based on their efforts and contributions, instead of their status or position. 

While equality is important, it doesn’t always consider the different challenges and obstacles people face based on their gender, race, ethnicity or socioeconomic background. It’s not a one size fits all solution. When it comes to equity, fairness is about the point from which a person begins, rather than what is the same. 

At Specsavers, we’re focused on equity – supporting our colleagues to thrive, while taking into account their starting point. That’s why International Women’s Day and #embraceequity are important to us. Our focus on global initiatives to create a more inclusive space is just one step in our journey.  

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