Most women in Australia, especially those with intersecting identities, feel underrepresented during International Women’s Day (IWD) events, according to the latest research by a not-for-profit organisation advocating diversity.

The study by SSI, which surveyed over 200 respondents in December 2023, showed that 6 in 10 or around 59% of women and non-binary people across the country do not feel represented during IWD events.

The respondents cited how most attendees at IWD events are people from economically privileged backgrounds. This is purportedly the main reason why they do not feel represented during the month-long celebration.

At least 45% of respondents also said that the people leading and speaking during IWD events in Australia do not look or sound like them, while 29% said they couldn’t relate to the issues brought forward during this period.

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Diverse voices are drowned out: women of colour, LGBTQIA+ and more

The SSI study also shed light on the perceived underrepresentation of women from diverse roots. Of the total number of black women respondents, 83% said they do not feel represented during IWD events.

It’s the same number and sentiment for women of colour, while all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women share the same outlook when it comes to representation during the International Women’s Day celebrations.

Meanwhile, 79% of women with a disability and 71% of LGBTQIA+ members also think their representation during IWD events needs more representation.

According to SSI, women from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds make up a huge portion of the Australian population. A 2021 Census showed at least 3 in 10 Australians were born overseas. The number of Australians speaking non-English languages has also increased to at least 5.5 million.

The recent SSI study is part of the organisation’s “More Voices, More Representation” campaign that aims to expose the shortcomings in Australia’s IWD celebrations, and how they affect women of diverse backgrounds.

The overall goal of the campaign is to champion underrepresented, underserved, minoritised and racialised women and non-binary voices across the various events, panels, and media coverage surrounding this day.

“There is astonishingly little consideration given to the different facets of our diverse population's identity and adjustments required to create inclusion and belonging,” said Astrid Perry OAM, Head of Women, Equity and Domestic Violence at SSI.

“We've seen in SSI’s work to uplift women from culturally and racially marginalised backgrounds into corporate leadership roles that these women are made to feel invisible and unheard. This clearly extends to their participation in International Women’s Day and beyond,” she said.

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The path to true inclusion: what the study suggests

When asked how Australia can be more inclusive in its IWD celebrations, 19% of the respondents said there must be efforts from corporate and political organisations to lead by example in fostering greater representation.

Some have also pushed for more diverse representation in events while others said that IWD needs to empower participation by paying Indigenous, Black, women of colour, and non-binary folk for their labour, time, and expertise during the month-long celebration.

Meanwhile, at least 17% of the respondents said the people behind IWD celebrations need to highlight women with lived and relatable experiences to shed light on issues they face, especially those from diverse backgrounds.

“When we include intersectional voices on IWD, we move beyond a one-size-fits-all approach to gender equality and acknowledge the diversity of women's experiences. This is important for creating a world where all women have the opportunity to thrive,” said Tara Croker, a Wiradjuri yinaa (woman) and founder of Yaala Sparkling, a partner organisation of the campaign.

Caroline La Rose, senior PR director at Vu Consulting, believes: “It is time for Australia to make IWD more inclusive by adopting an intersectional approach that is representative of its population otherwise IWD will remain a day that mostly celebrates, recognises and uplifts white, straight and able-bodied women.” 

“Australia needs to take the small steps towards making all women feel represented on IWD and beyond, by firstly increasing the number of diverse speakers at events and on panels and increasing the number of intersectional voices featured in the media,” La Rose said.