International Women’s Day 2022

Today, the world celebrates women. Since 1911, women across the world have united on the 8th of March to celebrate International Women’s Day (IWD). Despite the advances over the last century, from critical debates on female suffrage to the gender pay gap movement, challenges remain every day.

Here at the AA, we are working with industry to build a truly inclusive workplace via our initiative – All In.  Data from All In’s industry-wide census found that women were six times more likely to be personally discriminated against because of their gender. Drawing from this finding, we launched Action 4: To improve the experience and representation of women in our industry.

On March 16, All In is hosting a ‘How-To Session’ on Action 4, which will cover how flexible working can help to address gender inequality, with the  opportunity to ask questions and find out how to access further support. You can register for the free event here. 

To mark International Women’s Day, we asked our members what they are doing to celebrate women. Here are some of the inspiring initiatives:

IPA x Stepping into the Spotlight IWD special edition 

The IPA is hosting a special IWD edition of their Stepping into the Spotlight series. The virtual event includes a never seen before panel session featuring some of the most creative role models from across design, baking and adland, an interactive workshop on #BreakTheBias and more.

Find out more here.

OMG’s x ‘In Conversation with Mary-Ann Sieghart’ & more

Omnicom Media Group (OMG) has several initiatives for its staff to recognise  IWD, including: a discussion with Mary-Ann Sieghart, author of The Authority Gap; a series of classes throughout the week aimed at bringing women into more typically ‘male dominated’ fitness spaces and special editions of their agencies’ “all hands” meetings.

Newsworks x Women in Journalism

Newsworks is partnering with Women in Journalism to support the female journalists left behind in Afghanistan.

Newsworks CEO Jo Allan said: “This is a fantastic initiative and one that we’re really proud to support. It is vital we raise awareness of the difficult role for female journalists in Afghanistan, who continue to tell important stories despite extremely dangerous circumstances.”

The event will be held this summer but, as a preparation,  an online event was held on Monday 7th in solidarity with female Afghan journalists. The panel included special guest Zahra Joya amongst other great speakers! If you missed it, don’t worry, you can watch the event on demand here and you can read a review of the event here.

Generation Media UK x Q&A

To mark International Women’s Day this year, Generation Media will be featuring some Q&A content sourced directly from their female colleagues which will be circulated via their company social channels. Follow them on Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram to check it out!

Clear Channel x Women’s Month

Clear Channel is celebrating IWD by running activities throughout the whole month of March, focusing on gender equality through a female lens and topics that matter to women.

Moreover, Clear Channel is donating OOH advertising space to the following organisations and causes: #SheTakesOver – in partnership with adam&eveDDB; Sistah Space – Valerie’s Law; Endometriosis UK;  Ovarian Cancer Action & The Vagina Museum.

Their staff will also have the chance to join internal events and inspirational talks on the topic.

CPB Group x Where Gender Makes No Difference

Imagine a world where gender makes no difference – that’s what CPB is championing this #internationalwomensday. In order to challenge our unconscious biases we must first confront them so that we can collectively #BreakTheBias. To do this, CPB has developed social media assets as well as special IWD posters.

Here is the landing page  bringing this to life.

In addition to this year’s IWD theme to #breakthebias, CPB has set out to create a colouring book to enable important discussions around unconscious bias early in children. By working alongside illustrator Lily O’Farrell, they created a colour book showing certain job titles and asking children to draw what they see. There’s no right or wrong answer, but these will help spark conversations so that we can imagine a world where gender makes no difference to what you can achieve.

All benefits from the sale of the colouring book and posters will be donated to 0 Beyond Equality and Young Women’s Trust.

Lloyds Bank x Scottish Widows

Lloyds Bank is partnering with Scottish Widows on a powerful TV campaign, comprising of:  Scottish Widow’s new TV ad, which you can watch here;  a 20 seconds TV ad in partnership with Channel 4, running throughout today, which you can watch here and their new Manifesto film, showing how they are taking on the gender pension gap. Watch the full film here.

adam&eveDDB x She Takes Over

adam&eveDDB’s She Takes Over is the agency’s global initiative to celebrate IWD. On its third consecutive year, She Takes Over comes back as a month long, industry-wide initiative to elevate women and non-binary people in create production. Throughout March, it will be championing rising and established female and non-binary talent in filmmaking, photography, animation, illustration, music and the creative industries by providing a platform for their work so it is seen by people comissioning power.

Companies can sign up here and you can watch their launch film here.

Channel 4 x 4Talks

Channel 4 is partnering up with 4Sales to launch 4Talks: The Menopause in Colour. This is a special 4Talk session with an inspiring and expert line up to discuss the importance of intersectionality when tackling the menopause within the workplace and wider advertising industry, as well as the need to raise awareness of the menopause, treatment options with Black and Brown women.

4Talks is Channel 4’s thought leadership platform aiming to explore and discuss challenging and thought-provoking subjects across adland.

The session will be hosted by TV Presenter AJ Odudu at March 9, 11am. You can sign up here.

Want to know what IWD means to  staff of Channel 4’s advertising team? Head here and watch the video.

OPEN Media x CoppaFeel!

This IWD, OPEN Media is supporting leading UK breast cancer awareness charity CoppaFeel! to produce a combined out of home  and social media campaign that will feature a call to action in the form of a QR code. This code will take the public to the charity’s web-app, the Self-Checkout, designed to guide people through the step of getting started with self-checks.

Find out more here.

Publicis Groupe x VivaWomen Initiative

In conmemoration of IWD, Publicis Groupe has launched a film shining a light on the diverse, lived experiences of people going through menopause. The film aims to raise awareness of the impacts of menopause on mental and physical wellbeing while highlighting a serious support gap – particularly in workplaces.

The film has been created by Prodigious with support from Publicis Groupe’s VivaWomen initiative. You can watch the full fim here.

IAB x Anomaly’s Zara Gregory & more

IAB is working on a thought piece with their members, featuring voices from Grazia/Bauer Media Group, Meta, The Telegraph and Index Exchange. You can read the full piece on ‘What’s being done to break the bias?’ here.

They will also be releasing a podcast featuring Anomaly’s Zara Gregory, where she will be talking about how we can make the return to work, post-maternity leave, a more positive experience. Listen to this special episode here.

Our members are also raising awareness on International Women’s Day on social media, with incredible campaigns. Check out  Leith’s  and CPB Group campaigns on #BreakTheBias; OPEN Media x CoppaFeel! partnership on breast cancer awareness and Channel 4’s #LetHerFinish.

These initiatives reflect just some of the ways our industry is seeking to create a workplace where everyone feels they belong, and we are proud to support our members on this mission, through initiatives such as All In. Don’t forget to sign up to All In’s Action 4 How-To Session on improving the experience and representation of women here.