Today is International Women’s Day and the International Women’s Day website shares this information about the purpose and intent of this annual celebration:

“International Women's Day is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity. Significant activity is witnessed worldwide as groups come together to celebrate women's achievements or rally for women's equality. 

Marked annually on March 8th, International Women's Day (IWD) is one of the most important days of the year to:

• celebrate women's achievements
• raise awareness about women's equality
• lobby for accelerated gender parity
• fundraise for female-focused charities

The theme for the 2021 observation of International Women’s Day is #ChooseToChallenge

A challenged world is an alert world. Individually, we're all responsible for our own thoughts and actions - all day, every day.

We can all choose to challenge and call out gender bias and inequality. We can all choose to seek out and celebrate women's achievements. Collectively, we can all help create an inclusive world.

From challenge comes change, so let's all choose to challenge.”

In considering this year’s theme, I think perinatal educators aptly encourage the “choose to challenge” philosophy every time we teach a class.  We invite pregnant people and their families to challenge the status quo.  We encourage them to ask questions and make decisions from a place of intuition and information about their pregnancies, labors, births and postpartum periods.  We want them to ask for evidence based care and best practice from their health care providers.  We suggest participating fully in the decision making process and make their desires known.

It is through the collective efforts of all health care consumers, repeatedly stepping up to be an active and informed partner in their care with their health care providers, that birth and neonatal outcomes will improve.

Lamaze International extends an appreciative thank you to all the educators who are helping the families they teach to “choose to challenge” care that will result in positive experiences and improved outcomes.

If you would like to learn more about International Women’s Day, please head over to the IWD2021 website where you can access information, images and talking points to share and raise awareness about the achievements of women and keep the conversation going, encouraging everyone to “choose to challenge.”

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