It’s official. I’ve called it. I’ve got International Women’s Day burnout. Symptoms include feelings of dread, exhaustion and weariness, topped off with a sprinkle of guilt for not being a cheerleader for what was once a special day.
I think the resentment started with cupcakes. Such a belittling gesture at a time when women needed real and powerful action.
I am a woman who loves nothing more than dressing up in a frock and making a fuss. But IWD needs a glow up and a dressing down, because it’s starting to stink of virtue signaling. If the day wants to survive it needs to be less frivolous, more action-orientated and more serious.
As a rural woman in my mid(ish) thirties, I’ve spent the last eight years coordinating International Women’s Day events. It’s not the core business of my agricultural events and communications agency, but it’s a side hustle I’ve felt passionate about, and my love for it has been genuine. It brings women together in rural communities, gives us something positive to think about and look forward to and allows for some strong reflection. I am proud to say that we have read the room and the conversations have become meatier, more constructive and the focus has become stronger and more refined. Yet year on year, the impact seems stagnant.
We continue to do these events, having collaborations, decorations, partnerships, sponsors and styling – but what is the actual impact? Yes, it appears we have more women going into leadership roles, more women on boards, more women having the option to return to work sooner and have partners take paternity leave – but how many years of International Women’s Day events will it take for us to achieve true equality? How many cupcakes?
I recently posted about my IWD burnout on social media, and I was inundated with women reaching out and saying THANK GOD you said this – we all feel the same.
So if we all feel the same, why do we keep going?
I think women are empowered and motivated by the day, but frustrated with the virtue signaling and most of all, the cycle.
As IWD rolls around, there’s a big hoo-ha. Commitments are made and women are applauded and then the next day it all goes back to the way it was. They show up at the next year’s event without providing an update on the progress (or lack thereof) on last year’s commitments, making the same lofty motherhood statements and sending us on our way with a cold eggs Benedict.
This isn’t working anymore. It’s not good enough, and the tide is turning.
What I am sure about is that I, like many IWD event coordinators, am tired of trying to come up with spicy new ways to engage women and make a spectacle out of our celebration. I thought for years that if we shout loud enough people will listen, and then women, like the cream on my parents dairy farm, will rise to the top. But maybe this is when true change happens – when pulling back from the hustle, you can allow something even more powerful to come through. Going slower to go faster, if you will.
In 2024, I’m going to try a different approach.
Rather than having a stab in the dark at how we can create a spectacle “big-enough” to push progress and compete with the thousands of other IWD events out there, we are redirecting our efforts to something that will have tangible impact in the community. We are delivering an event for a community not-for-profit, the Northern Inland Academy of Sport, that helps girls succeed in sport. This event will raise money to ensure young girls have the opportunity to succeed. We know that 94% of women executives participate in sport, so hopefully we’re supporting the female CEOs of tomorrow.
So perhaps this the secret recipe. Go local, stay small, create a tangible impact, and help make a big difference.
It sure isn’t the recipe for an IWD cupcake. But the ingredients do make for an incredible event – and maybe even one which will actually demonstrate progress.
I’m looking forward to finding out.