International Women’s Day 2023 falls on Wednesday 8 March, providing an opportunity to celebrate women and combat inequality around the globe.
IWD was recognised by the UN in 1975 but has origins in the suffrage movement of the early 20th century, and is now widely marked with events, campaigns and charity fundraising.
To recognise the occasion, Google has released a special celebratory International Women’s Day Doodle – here’s everthing you need to know.
What is the IWD 2023 Google Doodle?
Today’s commemorative Google Doodle, which is being displayed for users of the search engine around the world, sees the letters of its logo replaced by a series of illustrations depicting verious aspects of womanhood.
According to Google, these “highlight just a few of the many areas in which women around the world support each other to progress and improve each other’s quality of life”.
It was created by the Doodle Artist Alyssa Winans based on the theme of “women supporting women”, which she said held particular resonance for her: “I’m the youngest of three girls, so since birth I’ve always benefited from the wisdom and support of those who came before me!
“I’m grateful for that and all the ways I see women in my life standing up for each other and their values.”
Winans added: “I know the full experience of what it means to be a woman certainly can’t all be captured in one image, so I hope it’s merely a jumping off point to reflect on how broad, complex, nuanced, and powerful the notion of womanhood is.”
More on International Women’s Day
What is the theme of International Women’s Day 2023?
Every year, the organisers of International Women’s Day announce a different theme, and the concept for the 2023 event is “Embrace Equity”.
The campaign website explains: “The aim of the IWD 2023 #EmbraceEquity campaign theme is to get the world talking about why equal opportunities aren’t enough.”
Equity is similar to the concept of equality, with one significant difference. Where equality makes sure that everyone is given identical opportunity, equity ensures that people are given specific support to suit individual needs – so that everyone has the chance to reach the same end goal.
IWD explains why the concept is so important for the women’s rights movement, saying: “Equity acknowledges that people don’t begin life in the same place, and that circumstances can make it more difficult for people to achieve the same goals.
“Inequity affects many people, but most commonly historically it has marginalised communities such as women, people of color, disabled people, the economically disadvantaged, and those from the LGBTQ+ community.
“The goal of equity is to change systemic and structural barriers that get in the way of people’s ability to thrive.”
