Let’s talk about International Women’s Day
Incredibly, this year’s International Women’s Day will drop squarely into a landscape beset by daily news stories of women’s rights still, slowly but surely, being chipped away all around the world.
Though much has and is being done to close the gender gap, safeguard rights for women and recognise and celebrate their achievements, the facts remain:
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Scotland's Gender Equality Index 2023 revealed that the domain of 'Power' scored 56 out of 100, indicating significant underrepresentation of women in leadership roles across private and public sectors, including in policing, judiciary, media, and sports. (data.gov.scot)
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In 2024, the gender pay gap for full-time employees in Scotland widened to 2.2%, up from 1.4% in 2023. This increase is attributed to men's hourly earnings rising faster than women's. In contrast, the UK's overall gender pay gap narrowed slightly from 7.5% to 7.0% during the same period. (Scottish Government)
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In 2022, women constituted 48% of Scotland's overall workforce but only 18% of those in digital technology roles. (Scotland Is)
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"The proportion of women pursuing technology-related education has not seen significant growth in recent years, contributing to the persistent underrepresentation in the tech workforce. (skillsdevelopmentscotland.co.uk)
Championing women.
We gathered the whole Dog team together to have an open chat about the continued importance of International Women’s Day, what changes we’d like to see for our industry, and who the amazing women are that inspire us across the business. We asked three key questions, and some of the quotes and thoughts from the conversation are below:
What does International Women’s Day mean to you?
“For me, raising my sons as feminists is always on my mind. I want them to grow up with strong female role models around them, be alert to misogyny and feel confident and capable to challenge it.”
“As a father, I want to make sure my daughter grows up in an environment where she is valued the same as anyone else.”
“I’m privileged to be surrounded by strong women both in and out of work, but also by men who are strong advocates for women. I’m grateful to have strong women and men in my family, and at Dog, who support, encourage, and respect the opinions, knowledge, and expertise of all people.”
“For me it’s a reminder to celebrate and support all the amazing women in creative industries and beyond.”
“I use the day to try and remind myself that we all live in a bubble. Just because things are good for me and those around me doesn’t mean every woman is doing well. True empowerment means empowerment for all.”
“We still hear the phrase ‘When is International Men’s Day?’ which just shows how much work there is still to be done.”
What changes would you love to see in our industry?
“Men have historically dominated the digital space, but that balance is beginning to tip as the industry evolves. There is still work to be done to ensure women’s voices are heard and supported from every level though.”
“I’d love to see a real commitment from the industry to shaping entry-level routes in for young women, with more access to mentoring and development opportunities.”
“At Dog, it’s encouraging to have women in leadership positions. But it’s shocking to me that less than 20% of creative directors are female across the wider industry. I’d love to see more women in creative leadership positions in general.”
“Ultimately, for me, it’s about encouraging women to feel like they can have both a career and a family if they want, in the way so many men do, without having to justify, defend or apologise for their choices.”
“At Dog we work flexibly, which benefits everyone, but I know it’s not like that among other agencies, especially down south. I’d like to see this mentality change for the better across the wider agency scene.”
Who inspires you at Dog and why?
“Helen inspires me with her can-do attitude. She’s a great asset to the team and a great companion on projects.”
“Our amazing developers – Anna, Alison, and Rosa. Each of them is a tech queen, always happy to share their knowledge and expertise with the team.”
“Laura's 'sea of tranquillity' calm energy is very inspiring!”
“Katie and Heather's dedication to smashing their fitness goals – strong, strong women!”
“Amy is such a knowledgeable force at Dog. She has an infectious work ethic and strives for the best possible outcome of every project.”
“Emma is endlessly creative and paints murals and jackets in her own time – so cool and inspiring.”
“Erinn’s enthusiasm and positive nature is a breath of fresh air.”
“Charlotte is great at keeping things calm while ensuring things get done.”
As one of us put it, “Strong, confident, supportive, ambitious, passionate, inspiring – I could use any of these words and more to describe the women at Dog. As International Women’s Day rolls around again, things might not be changing as much or as quickly as we would like around the world, but I’m yet again reminded how grateful I am to know and be working with a talented, amazing group of women right here in this very organisation.”
Together, let's step up and #AccelerateAction for International Women's Day, to emphasise the importance of taking swift and decisive steps to achieve gender equality worldwide.