Dr Michelle O'Driscoll: The women who inspire me 

When I was asked to write a column about what International Women’s Day (IWD) means to me, I must admit it took me a while to gather my thoughts and appropriately articulate them.

I’m rarely a fan of calendar days like this if I’m honest – I’m afraid of the risk of tokenism and box-ticking,

However, IWD is an undeniable opportunity to both celebrate and rally, two actions that I believe are important in equal measure.

Celebrate

At about this time each year, we spotlight wonderful women with high achievements, driving change and delivering incredible outputs.

Just a few inspiring ladies that spring to mind for me include Professor Katriona O’Sullivan, author of the book Poor, and professor in Maynooth University, who is breaking barriers and boundaries in society through her words and personal story of poverty; Aimee Connolly, a successful young Irish female entrepreneur, who is currently making waves internationally through her acclaimed brand, Sculpted by Aimee; and Mary Robinson, an Irish stalwart who is acting as an advocate for our generation and future generations on the climate crisis and communicating the urgency of collective action. All of these women and so many more give us lofty examples to aspire to in terms of voice and success and impact.

Even more importantly for me, however is recognising the efforts and achievements of all women, from our everyday lives, showing impact and success and voice in perhaps a less public or even very private setting, but in a way that’s no less noteworthy.

These women are closer to home - in our offices and WhatsApp groups, or under our own roof. The women who grind every day to further their careers, often against the odds. The women who create impactful change in their homes or communities through their volunteering, their mothering, or their friendships. The mums and sisters, friends and colleagues, daughters and grandmothers who have a voice and use it in a positive and impactful way – to mentor, call to account, or uplift others.

All of these women are worth celebrating, and are at the forefront of my mind throughout IWD.

Rally

Rallying is an equally important aspect of IWD.

IWD is about the coming together of all genders, religions, cultures and backgrounds, to encourage, prompt and demand change where it’s needed most.

Action is a word that’s being strongly associated with International Woman’s Day this year, #AcceleratedAction to be precise. We know action is being called for to establish equity and parity across many important areas, and to remove barriers currently being encountered by women in this country and worldwide.

Barriers like lack of women in leadership positions, or female representation in government, the well documented gender pay gap, the lack of healthcare supports for women, and the lack of appropriate childcare all need to be addressed. The latter two in particular are areas that have really disillusioned me recently, and need to be brought centre stage this IWD.

The recent disappointing ‘free HRT’ announcement only served to mislead women who are in real need of this health support.

The worsening childcare crisis is seeing so many providers closing, delaying women from returning to the workforce, or adding stress to their transition back. While this affects families as opposed to just women, the burden that mothers carry in this regard cannot be denied.

Action is such an important word to emphasise, as it’s often through passivity that the greatest damage is done to equality. It’s often through what’s left unsaid that the greatest divides emerge. Common humanity is a thread that links all of us, and through the actions and voices of both women and men, across all parts of society, the equity and parity that we strive for may come closer to becoming a reality.

On days like IWD, I wonder at the strength, drive, emotional intelligence and selflessness of women. I reflect on how lucky I am to have the women in my life that I have, and I hope to in some small way be that person for somebody else.