International Women’s Day
Each year, on March 8th, International Women’s Day celebrates the spirit of women as we track the strides made towards equality. During the pandemic, many women were at the center of relief and care efforts across the globe – whether on the frontlines or in caregiving capacities. While women willingly stepped up to help those around them, we need to do more as a society to recognize and support their efforts. We’ve come a long way but there is much to be done.
A McKinsey study reported that working towards advancing gender equality could increase annual global GDP by about 26% by 2025. Women are a wealth of untapped potential for countries and communities. Even within health, women’s voices and experiences are often underrepresented and underreported. This is true of women across all ages and in various different settings and regions. Here are five astounding facts that highlight the breadth of gender disparity:
- Women account for less than 30% of the world’s researchers. Not only do women earn less than men, but this gender wage gap is also more pronounced in specific fields (such as computer science, engineering and senior management) that are typically higher-paying and more influential.
- Women and girls provide over 70% of global caregiving hours. If this responsibility interferes with their career, this adversely impacts their participation in the workforce.
- In sport, female athletes are almost twice as likely than males to sustain a concussion.
- In health, women are more susceptible to HIV infection than men.
- Poor public health only exacerbates women’s unfavorable circumstances. Over the COVID-19 pandemic, women have felt less safe and have been subjected to increased instances (or a heightened threat) of domestic violence.
Many women are unable to ask for help. Often there is too little relevant information or resources available to address specific problems.
At TeachAids, we are passionate about creating an environment that encourages learning and celebrating each other’s talents. We believe that an organization is at its strongest when it has individuals from diverse backgrounds and expertise.
Here are a few thoughts from female leaders at TeachAids.
“Diversity breads strength. Over the decade that I have volunteered at TeachAids, it’s been inspiring to see several generations of women working with their male counterparts supporting and lifting each other up. I’m humbled to be part of this inclusive, caring and talented community of learners and givers.” – Aparna Khare, Technology Lead
“Working on an all-female team to create and develop content has been hugely rewarding. It has been so inspiring to ideate, learn and grow together despite the fact that we are all at different stages in our careers (our team ranges from high school students to board members and the founder) and we are spread across India and the US. Yet our hearts are all in the same place – dedicated to building bridges, amplifying voices and creating change.” – Pritika Rao, India Content Development
“As a high school student, I feel incredibly empowered by the women at TeachAids who lead with such strength, passion, and kindness. It is such a privilege to volunteer and collaborate with these role models. I hope to one day follow in their footsteps to enact meaningful change.” – Samantha Yamashita, Research Intern
“It has been an honor to learn from the incredible women at TeachAids from all ends of the spectrum, from high schoolers to graduate students to advisors. Identity and representation within the education space matters. As a woman, leading alongside these fellow women has been truly empowering. As I embark on my journey to become a medical doctor, I am humbled by the path paved for me by the women leads at TeachAids. I am excited to forge ahead in empowering other women through health education.” – Amy Bugwadia, Sr. Research Assistant
TeachAids is committed to designing for inclusive ecosystems. This year, as we celebrate the incredible power of women, we recommit ourselves to working harder to help close the gender gap so that all voices, talent, experiences and capabilities are valued, validated, recognized and rewarded.