INTERNATIONAL Women’s Day 2022 will be driven by a campaign to break the gender bias which creates an uneven playing field for women around the world.
On 8 March each year, International Women’s Day celebrates the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women worldwide.
This year, IWD 2022 calls for action to #BreakTheBias in communities and workplaces to create a world free of stereotypes and discrimination.
The campaign can be perceived as an important message to the maritime industry, which is historically and consistently male dominated.
In 2021, women accounted for just 1.2% of the global seafaring community, according to the Seafarer Workforce Report from BIMCO and the International Chamber of Shipping.
The figure represents a positive trend in gender balance, up 45.8% since the 2015 report was published, though the current gender ratio suggests there is still a long way to go.
According to the official International Women’s Day website, it takes more than an awareness of gender bias to forge women’s equality; it takes action to create a gender-equal world.
Jillian Carson-Jackson told DCN breaking the bias involves working toward a world which is diverse, equitable, and inclusive.
“In the maritime industry this means not just looking to provide ‘equal opportunity’ but to support diversity with equitable opportunities – recognising we are communities of experts with different experiences, different viewpoints, and different skill sets,” she said.
“It also means we focus on ensuring a safe and healthy workplace – not just physical safety, but also psychological safety where everyone feels valued and able to speak up, be heard and be respected.
“Working together, we can break the bias.”
