March 8, 2022 – Today is International Women’s Day, a day to promote and celebrate the achievements of women; to raise awareness of gender bias and discrimination; to lend our support by fundraising for women-focused charities; and a day that serves as a call to action to accelerate women’s equality. This year’s theme is #BreakTheBias.
Looking back, there were so many women worthy of recognition over the last year. Here are just a few of the women particularly impactful on Shattering Glass and our work.
In politics, Michelle Wu was the first woman and person of color elected as the mayor of Boston. Since then, she has endured endless racism and misogyny and been subjected to threats of violence and hateful attacks. Recently, Mayor Wu has been forced to propose an ordinance to prohibit protests of a particular residents as a result of the harassment of her family and neighbors allegedly due to COVID restrictions. We stand with you, Mayor Wu, and we admire your strength, determination and dedication to serving the City of Boston. How is this still happening in 2022? We need more women leaders!
We cannot talk about politics without celebrating Representative Carolyn Maloney, who is one of the greatest champions of women. She fearlessly has been fighting for gender equality for decades – everything from the Equal Rights Amendment to ensuring that the NFL investigates and holds the Washington Commanders responsible for systemic sexual harassment and sexist hostile workplace. Thank you, Representative Maloney.
In the sports world, Rachel Balkovec, who formerly had to hide her name to secure job interviews, became the first woman to manage a professional baseball team earlier this year when she was named the manager of the Tampa Tarpons, a Class A affiliate of the New York Yankees. She will not be hiding her name any longer. Thank you, Rachel for shattering glass and paving the way for other women.
In the arts, Rita Moreno spoke out about her Hollywood experience in a heart-wrenching and powerful interview on 60 Minutes. She endured racism, misogyny and rape, and she more than preserved – breaking barriers, inspiring and paving the way for countless women. And at 90, she remains a force to be reckoned with. Thank you, Rita. We know it was not easy.
Finally, we want to celebrate the countless women’s rights activists who fight tirelessly for equality every day. You may not know their names, but you have felt their impact.
Despite all of the progress and amazing achievements, there is much work to be done.
The pandemic continues to take an enormous toll on women, particularly women of color. According to the World Economic Forum, none of our children, grandchildren or their children will see gender parity in our lifetimes because, as of the end of 2020, it is estimated that gender parity will not be attained for 136 years – 36 years more than was estimated at the end of 2019!
As our nation recovers, and our economy bounces back, women are being left behind. Even the best of monthly jobs reports are devasting for women, particularly Black women. It may take a decade just for women to get back to where we were pre-pandemic.
Women are suffering. Underpaid and undervalued. Lacking access to affordable childcare, healthcare and paid leave. Inadequate protections against sexual assault, harassment, domestic violence and discrimination. Attacks on our reproductive rights. The list goes on.
The Equal Rights Amendment is the first crucial step to our recovery, and it is being blocked. Elected officials playing politics with the lives of 167 million women and girls. Shattering Glass is working tirelessly to ensure our equality is enshrined in our Constitution and no longer subject to the whims of politicians and the judges they appoint. One year ago today, I founded Shattering Glass to make sure our daughters, granddaughters and their children can achieve their dreams, know their worth, and live in a world free of barriers, discrimination and bias. A world where gender equality is the norm, and “Shattering Glass” refers to breakthrough innovations, not women and girls successfully fighting to breaking down barriers.
However, we need your help. It will take a loud collective voice to make gender equality a reality. Today, we hope you will be called to action. Join us in the fight by signing up for updates and action items, following us on social media, spreading the word about the issues, solutions and action items, or donating. Together we can #BreakTheBias.
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