Uncovering The Background of International Women’s Day
International Women’s Day (IWD) has been observed annually on March 8th since the early 1900s. It was initially a platform to call for women’s right to vote, hold public office, and work in fair conditions. Today, the day is a global celebration of the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women, and a call to action for gender equity. The World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report 2022 showed that the gender gap in economic participation and opportunity has reached 68.1% and will take over 132 years to close. Additionally, women still face challenges in areas such as education, healthcare, and representation in leadership positions. Therefore, International Women’s Day remains as relevant today as it was over a century ago in championing gender equity and women’s rights around the world.
Understanding and Addressing Gender Disparities
Gender disparities, or inequalities between men and women, persist from a combination of factors such as social norms, unequal access to resources and opportunities, and lack of legal protections. Cultural beliefs and norms limit women’s access to education, employment, and leadership roles. Women make up only 24% of parliamentarians worldwide, and over half of all countries exhibit gender gaps in education and health that disproportionately benefit men. Economic disparity also contributes to gender disparities, with women facing unequal pay and limited access to education and job opportunities. Women’s average global wage is 16% lower than men’s, and only 55% of women participate in the labour force. Legal and policy barriers also limit women’s rights and opportunities, affecting over 2.5 billion women and girls worldwide. Discriminatory laws and policies leave women vulnerable to physical and sexual violence, with 35% of women worldwide experiencing such violence. Addressing these disparities is crucial to build a more equitable society, especially through impactful social change campaigns.
How Brands can Drive Social Change with Impactful Cause Marketing Campaign
Social media can help your brand make a difference by promoting gender equity and driving meaningful change. By creating impactful campaigns that align with your values, your brand can inspire and empower the audience to take action. Social media can also leverage a stronger relationship with your audience, especially Gen Z, which is important in today’s landscape where consumers expect brands to not only deliver high-quality products or services but also take a stand on social issues that align with their values. This International Women’s Day, your brand can leverage social media to make a positive impact by launching a campaign that promotes gender equity and drives meaningful change. Here is how to start an impactful campaign to drive social change that aligns with your brand:
Focus on the Social Change Your Brand or You Can Help Address
When launching a campaign to drive positive social change, it is important to identify and focus on a specific area. In the case of gender disparities, it is important to pinpoint the particular social cause you want to address, such as the gender pay gap, underrepresentation in leadership roles, or limited access to education. This approach allows for a more targeted and clearer message.
A Compelling and Relatable Message Is Your Key
Craft a compelling message that showcases your brand’s ability to add value to a social cause and motivates others to join in driving positive change. Include a clear call-to-action that outlines specific ways individuals can contribute, such as shifting buying habits or donating. Use relatable stories, statistics, and graphics to amplify the impact of your campaign, build momentum, and create meaningful social change.
Choose The Right Platform for Your Women Empowerment Brand Awareness Campaign
To effectively convey your message, it is essential to consider your target audience and determine the most suitable platform to leverage. Keeping up with the latest trends and algorithm updates of each platform is also important in ensuring your campaign reaches a wider audience. TikTok, with its unique video format and algorithm, presents a promising platform to run your campaign and create a more distinct impact.
TikTok: A Powerful Tool to Drive Social Change
With over one billion active users worldwide, TikTok offers a unique opportunity to reach a vast audience and inspire action towards gender equity. In fact, Hootsuite stated that 57% of TikTok global users are female, making it an ideal platform for promoting women’s empowerment. Additionally, 68% of users are aged 18-24, making TikTok a platform for reaching younger generations who are more likely to be passionate about social change. By leveraging TikTok’s creative and engaging format, you can create a compelling message that resonates with your audience and inspires them to act towards creating a more equitable world.
Discover How Companies Can Utilise TikTok to Raise Awareness for Gender Equity
With its focus on creativity and storytelling, TikTok provides an opportunity to create engaging and entertaining content that can effectively draw the attention of potential supporters. By tapping into the platform’s vast user base, you can connect with like-minded individuals and extend your reach to a wider audience, thus making a significant impact in empowering women. A compelling example of this is how UN Women India successfully utilised TikTok to raise awareness.
“What’s The Big Deal” or #KaunsiBadiBaatHai by UN Women India
Through the #KaunsiBadiBaatHai campaign on TikTok, UN Women India is challenging gender stereotypes and promotes gender equity in India. The campaign encourages TikTok users, particularly young people, to share their thoughts on what they believe is the most important issue facing women today, using the hashtag #KaunsiBadiBaatHai, which translates to “What’s The Big Deal” in Hindi. By engaging young people on TikTok, the campaign aims to inspire a new generation of activists and change-makers who are committed to advancing gender equity and building a more just and equal society.
#WeAreHere by TikTok, partnered up with Shesaid.so
Shesaid.so, a global independent community of women and gender minorities in the music industry, has partnered with TikTok to launch #WeAreHere, a campaign to highlight the issue of women’s under-representation in music, in celebration of International Women’s Day. The campaign features famous artists such as Shania Twain, Anne Marie, and others, and aims to amplify the voices of women in music while promoting gender equity in the industry.
“Women’s Voices, Strength, and Creativity” Exclusive Live Stream Sessions by TikTok Singapore
In celebration of International Women’s Day (IWD), TikTok Singapore uncovered different stories of six women entrepreneurs and business owners of homegrown brands in the country in a series of exclusive live stream sessions. Through this initiative, TikTok Singapore encourages the community to empower more women to own their voice, rise and make positive steps towards achieving gender equity.
Let’s continue to celebrate women’s achievements and progress towards gender equity by tackling the root causes of gender disparities. Social media platforms, like TikTok, provide a powerful tool for raising awareness and driving social change. Together, we can focus on specific issues and create a more equitable world for all.
Join us in honouring International Women’s Day by listening to an inspiring conversation with Karen Cheah, a woman entrepreneur who has created a sustainability-focused startup, AlterPacks, to address the environmental issue of waste. Tune in to episode #8 of the Epic Nation podcast, available on YouTube and Spotify, to learn from her experiences and join the movement towards a more equal society.
