This article is shared by SOCR on behalf of the Seattle Women’s Commission (SWC). It is authored by Krystal Guerrero, Co-Chair of the SWC.

On March 8, we unite to celebrate International Women’s Day (IWD) under the theme Accelerate Action. IWD 2025 is a call to take bold, urgent steps toward gender equality, and the Seattle Women’s Commission fully supports this challenge. In this article, we share real insights from local women who responded to a recent survey, highlighting the challenges they face, their achievements, and the changes needed to build a truly equal world. These reflections serve as a powerful reminder of the work still ahead.

Women continue to face immense pressure in both their personal and professional lives. Women are expected to juggle multiple roles—nurturing, emotionally available, fit, and successful in demanding careers—often without recognition. Many women find themselves overwhelmed by these conflicting expectations. As one woman put it, “The endless expectations to be nurturing, happy, clean, fit, and still work a full-time job without being acknowledged or appreciated.” These unrealistic standards are placed on women every day, leaving them with little room for balance or personal fulfillment.

Additionally within the accounts provided, many women pointed to systemic inequalities that affect their lives and careers. From insufficient access to women’s healthcare to the underrepresentation of women in leadership, the disparities are deeply ingrained. One respondent shared her frustration over the lack of postpartum care in the United States compared to other countries, illustrating how women’s health needs often go ignored or underserved. This sentiment is reflected in broader statistics—women’s healthcare continues to receive less research funding, and critical issues like maternal health remain underfunded. 

While we’ve made important strides in gender equality, many women feel that progress has been too slow. More women are entering the workforce and pursuing higher education, but gender parity remains distant. One respondent noted, “Women have become more educated and have more control of their lives.” However, she also acknowledged the continued need for more equal pay, better working conditions, and greater representation in leadership.

Despite these challenges, women continue to find strength, resilience, and joy in their experiences. One woman shared, “The best part of being a woman is the nurturing energy we possess. It brings fulfillment and purpose.” Another spoke about the profound joy of motherhood, saying that “the gift of having children” was one of the most transformative experiences of her life. These reflections highlight the deep emotional intelligence and empathy that many women possess—qualities that shape their relationships and their contributions to the world.

While these personal strengths are undeniable, systemic barriers persist, slowing progress and preventing women from fully thriving in the workforce and beyond. The pace of change remains too slow to address the urgency of these challenges. The World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report 2023 estimates it will take 131 years to close the political gender gap and nearly 250 years for full economic equality—timelines that are simply unacceptable.

To Accelerate Action toward gender equality, there are specific areas that need immediate attention:

1. Workplace Equality: Women continue to earn less than men for the same work. In fact, the gender pay gap in the U.S. stands at 82 cents to every dollar earned by men, and women of color experience even wider gaps. Women also remain underrepresented in leadership roles. According to McKinsey’s Women in the Workplace 2022 report, women make up 47% of entry-level positions, but only 26% of senior vice presidents, and just 21% of C-suite executives. 
   
2. Healthcare: Access to adequate healthcare for women remains a significant issue, with research on women’s health still underfunded. A 2022 study from the National Institutes of Health revealed that women’s health research is vastly underfunded compared to men’s health research. Additionally, maternal health is a growing crisis, especially in the U.S., where the maternal mortality rate is the highest among developed countries, disproportionately affecting Black women.
   
3. Political Representation: While the number of women in political offices has grown, women are still significantly underrepresented. As of the 119th U.S. Congress, women make up 28% of voting members, a significant 44% increase from a decade ago, though still below their share of the U.S. population, which is 51%. This gap in political representation limits women’s ability to shape policies that affect their lives, including those related to healthcare, education, and workplace equality.
   
4. Maternity and Family Support: Many women are demanding better maternity leave policies, more support for working mothers, and improved work-life balance. In the U.S., paid family leave is still not federally mandated, leaving many women to bear the financial burden of taking time off after childbirth. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, only 19% of workers in the U.S. have access to paid family leave, compared to countries like Sweden, where paid parental leave is up to 480 days.
   
5. Gender-Based Violence: Gender-based violence continues to be a pervasive issue affecting women worldwide. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 1 in 3 women globally experience physical or sexual violence in their lifetime, most often by an intimate partner. In the U.S., the National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS) reports that nearly 1 in 4 women have experienced severe intimate partner violence. This violence not only causes physical and emotional harm but also has long-lasting impacts on women’s economic stability, mental health, and overall well-being.
   
6. Access to Affordable Housing: In Seattle, the lack of affordable housing disproportionately affects women, particularly women of color and single mothers. Women are more likely to be housing cost-burdened, spending over 30% of their income on rent. The city’s rising housing costs have made it increasingly difficult for women and families to secure stable housing, exacerbating financial instability and leading to higher rates of homelessness among women. Affordable housing is essential for women’s economic security and overall well-being, and addressing this issue is a critical step toward achieving gender equality.

We must act now to address disparities and ensure women have equal opportunities to thrive. As we reflect on International Women’s Day, the message is clear: Accelerate Action. At the current pace, it will take decades—or even centuries—to close the gender gap in healthcare, representation, and economic equality. 

On March 8, let’s unite to demand faster progress and a future where women have equal access to all opportunities.

To learn more about International Women’s Day and how to get involved, visit https://www.internationalwomensday.com/ and to explore opportunities with the Seattle Women’s Commission, visit https://www.seattle.gov/womenscommission.

Thank you to the survey respondents who shared their stories, helping shape this article.

The Seattle Women’s Commission is a group of community volunteers that advise the Mayor, City Council, and City departments on issues that impact the women of Seattle. The commission works together to identify areas of concern, recommend equitable policies, and serve as a liaison between the women of Seattle and City government. www.seattle.gov/womenscommission