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IWD 2018 – Celebrating Women today, tomorrow and in the future

Brittany Lee Waller

I am very down with celebrating women. It could be because I am a woman and am rather partial to an enthusiastic hi-five every now and then. It might be because the majority of my friends are women and I’m fond of raising a glass to them should I get the opportunity. But, looking deeper, I know that it’s because the singular part that I play in celebrating women is imperative to creating a future for girls that is bright, equal, safe and rewarding.

International Women’s Day is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. It is held annually on March 8 to celebrate women’s achievements throughout history and across nations. It is also known as the United Nations (UN) Day for Women’s Rights and International Peace.

With over one hundred years of diverse history – the call for gender parity at its core – IWD began in 1908 when 15,000 women marched through New York City demanding shorter hours, better pay and voting rights. It was born out of a time of great unrest and oppression, but more importantly it became a catalyst for change. A time where women became more vocal and more active in campaigning for equality.

Over the last century it has continued to grow globally into a ‘web of rich and diverse local activity connect(ing) women from all around the world ranging from political rallies, business conferences, government activities and networking events through to local women’s craft markets, theatric performances, fashion parades and more,’ as sited on the official IWD website.

This year the theme for IWD is #Pressforprogress, a ‘call-to-action to press forward and progress gender parity’. Recognising this, and that the running tone of IWD is about celebrating women on more than just ‘one day’, we’d like to shine a light on a selection of past female TEDxSydney speakers and their incredible ideas, innovations and creativity they’ve not only contributed to our community but also to our future.

We hope you enjoy, and happy International Women’s Day.

This year at TEDxSydney we invite you to come and explore a diverse array of ideas as we delve into 2018’s theme of ‘HumanKind’. Secure your spot now.

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