International Women's Day and Small Businesses
We all love a good discount, don't we? Be it an EOSS or International Women's Day discount.
While the original plan for this blog entry was to focus on Blue Pottery, with March half way through, I felt it would be fun to shift gears a little bit and share some thoughts on International Women’s Day (IWD), seek perspectives and encourage us to think. It’s a time of year that often generates a lot of buzz, isn’t it? I want to take you back a few decades to share my first rendezvous with IWD, and then journey even further back to explore the origins of IWD.
A significant part of my corporate work experience has been dedicated to fostering inclusive workplaces that champion and celebrate diversity. Early on, one of the first groups we focused on was working women. How can we create workspaces that truly include women in terms of processes, policies, systems and infrastructure? How do workplaces support their female workforce in achieving success both at work and beyond? And what role does each of us—regardless of gender—play in supporting women? My professional journey spans across industries, sectors, and cultures, from corporate roles in American and Indian MNCs to work in the NGOs in the development/ social sector. I’ve been involved with IT, BPO, consulting, FMCG, and the education sector. While each sector has its own unique challenges—like ensuring clean washrooms in corporate offices to building ladies’ facilities in traditionally male-dominated factories, mentoring high performing women for senior roles to engaging with families to allow their daughters to work in factories —the underlying issues remain the same of viewing women as an equal and productive part of the society who have the right to choice.
These experiences have often raised a series of questions for the DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) practitioner in me: Have we culturally evolved enough to genuinely consider inclusion of women? What does true inclusion of women look like? Do socio-economic backgrounds influence decision-making? Do societal norms and unspoken role expectations hold many women back from realizing their full potential? (Because constantly fighting against these pressures can be exhausting).
The list goes on! Answers are not simply black or white. There are shades of grey and many at that. Then, an existential crisis strikes, and you're left questioning: Do we really need International Women’s Day? What does it mean to a small business starter/owner.
One piece of advice I received from a mentor in my early years was to always get my hands dirty—dig deep and understand the origins and context of any situation. This has stayed with me - whether or not I apply it to all situations or a few is something I have to be mindful of. It’s important for us to explore the how, why, where, and when of IWD. We need to understand how and why IWD came into existence, its roots, and the historical context that led to the creation of such a day. It definitely ain’t an invention of Hallmark or Archies, like many other "special days" throughout the year.
IWD finds it's origins in Europe, specifically Germany and Russia, in the early 1900s, when women organized protest marches demanding equality, including the right to work, the right to vote, and more. (While India at the time was in the middle of the freedom struggle with a ton of examples of women freedom fighters fighting the fight shoulder to shoulder with their male counterparts. ) Over the years, their fight, passion, and desire to be heard were recognized by different agencies, and eventually, the day was commemorated and celebrated, with March 8th becoming universally accepted as the official date. There’s a wealth of literature available, both online and offline, about the origins of IWD—Wikipedia is a good starting point. Understanding this history grounds us in the purpose of IWD and keeps us focused on its true meaning in today’s context.
IWD isn’t about the rangoli competition at work that often gets dismissed as a trivial celebratory event and it's the underlying message lost—that of camaraderie, mutual support and fun, which, by the way, women often feel guilty for experiencing and enjoying. The latest addition to the list of "special days" seems to be International Men’s Day, I think, though I honestly have no idea what that really means. It feels like the true essence of observing these days is getting lost.
In my personal opinion, there are some fundamental issues we, as a society, need to address and work on:
1. Building a True Understanding of Inclusivity and Championing Diversity
Fostering inclusivity begins with providing an equal playing field for all children, regardless of gender, cognitive ability, academic performance, or temperament. It’s about nurturing each child’s unique qualities and encouraging them to pursue their own path, while creating an environment where they can grow into the best versions of themselves. This mindset extends to adults as well—empowering men and women to find and follow their own paths in life. This means cultivating a safe, supportive environment that respects and upholds individual choices, free from gender-based stereotypes. It’s about allowing everyone to embrace and thrive in the roles they choose for themselves.
2. Finding champions and cheerleaders that are invested and are willing to bet on you
I remember a senior colleague from my first job stressing the importance of finding sponsors and mentors. I’d also add 'friends' and 'well-meaning colleagues' to that list. Each of these roles is crucial, and while the advice was meant for the workplace, it applies just as much to our personal lives, don’t you think?
I’ve been fortunate to have sponsors at work who advocated for roles that would support my growth. I’ve also had mentors, despite their busy schedules leading large teams and organisations, who always took the time to discuss my aspirations and guide me on how to achieve them in the best possible way. They continue to offer their advice, as do friends and family who are willing to join me on field trips to meet the artists and vendors I work with. It’s crucial to find these people in our lives—who I believe are leaders in their own right—and who act as our champions with no ulterior motives other than our success and happiness.
3. Normalising conversations about mental health with genuine focus and acceptance
It's high time we break free from stereotypical mindsets that not only overlook mental well-being but also often tie it to a specific gender. We need to create an environment that supports thinking outside the norm and encourages people to pursue paths different from those set by previous generations. Being able to understand each other better and our emotions is increasingly becoming the need of the hour especially given the fast paced - semi virtual life we all seem to be living.
As the world order changes and the DEI landscape evolves, it shouldn't diminish our individual responsibility to honor those who are the change makers and torch bearers. I strive to actively celebrate the women who paved the way for us, as well as the men and women in our families who stand up for what’s right and challenge set norms. This includes exploring the origins and true purpose of certain customs, appreciating family members who prioritize our happiness over societal pressures, and recognizing those willing to learn, adapt, and create change.
Some things we do but need to do more actively at Chokar as I think about DEI today -
- Encourage the artists I work with to view the well-being of their children without the gender (bias) lens - including emphasizing the importance of education, passing down the wealth of knowledge of their craft to their children irrespective of their gender, &/or ultimately supporting their children in choosing their own life path.
- Collaborate with fellow entrepreneurs to create top quality products. Collaboration is such a powerful way to connect, network and build a support system for ourselves.
- Lead by example in my personal life involves shedding unconscious biases and being more mindful in my actions. I know it's a tough one especially if it means being aware of our conditioning and acting contrary to it but it's doable.
Will this list also ever include a Women's Day discount offer? Never say never, but not this year :)
The inclusion of women, being aware of our unconscious biases, gender-based role stereotyping, gender in handicrafts, and socio-economic changes are vast topics in their own right. While it’s an exciting thought to address them all at once, it’s obviously not possible. I'd love to chat up should you find this interesting, over a cup of coffee.
Ps - I am always on a lookout for other business owners to collaborate with, leaders who'd love to share a leaf out of their book with me and friends who'd just cheer me on my sharing my work in their networks :)