How to Help Accelerate Support for Women's Equality
International Women's Day was earlier this month, and the theme this year is Accelerate Action. Here's how we can all pitch in to help drive gender parity.


The world continues to shift when it comes to women’s equality, and there is good reason to feel immense pride when looking at how things have changed for the better for women.
“Worldwide, women are more educated today than at any point in history, and gender gaps between women’s and men’s academic attainments are rare in countries with high levels of educational achievement.
In fact, women in some 50 countries on average have achieved a higher level of education than men have, and in others, they live longer and are healthier,” according to the National Intelligence Council’s Strategic Futures Group via the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.

Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
The purpose of International Women’s Day (IWD), on March 8 every year, is to raise awareness about discrimination and to drive gender parity. The 2025 IWD theme is Accelerate Action to create a more inclusive world for women.
While women have made inroads in the fight for equality, there is still work to be done.
Here are three areas that are key to economic equality for women:
1. Financial access
A woman's household decision-making power increases when she has access to finance services and some power over how money gets spent.
“In 2021, 78% of men had a financial account compared to 74% of women,” according to the Global Findex Database 2021 overseen by the World Bank. “In developing economies, the gap is larger, with 74% of men having an account compared to 68% of women.”
Financial inclusion allows women to have opportunities such as getting a loan, starting a business and building credit. This also includes access to retirement planning, estate planning, tax preparation and financial aid for education.
One way to promote financial access is by improving financial literacy with regards to digital skills, to ensure women and girls know how to use technology to access the services above.
Without access, a woman can’t improve her finances and deal with financial setbacks such as illness, unexpected bills or employment issues.
Most importantly, a woman who has no access to financial services is less likely to have the ability to get out of situations where she also has no power.
2. Entrepreneurship
The pool of female entrepreneurs is impressive. According to Wells Fargo’s 2024 Impact of Women-Owned Businesses, women own more than 14 million businesses, which represents 39% of all businesses.
Business owners and executives can keep those numbers growing by offering mentorship opportunities for aspiring female business owners and leaders.
Mentorships provide an expert source of guidance, knowledge and encouragement as women get started on a career, helping them to achieve their goals, build skills, increase confidence and learn how to deal with career challenges.
The Harvard Business Review reports that “75% of executives credit their success to mentors, and recent research shows that 90% of employees with a career mentor are happy at work.”
Other ways business owners, executives and companies can support female entrepreneurship:
- Highlight business leaders on social media
- Offer networking events
- Work with other women on entrepreneurship opportunities
Women also need to advocate for themselves to move their professional goals forward.
3. Fighting discrimination
Women sometimes face exclusion from the workplace based on their gender, race, ethnicity, age, religion, sexual orientation and class.
According to Pew Research, “Women are roughly four times as likely as men to say they have been treated as if they were not competent because of their gender (23% of employed women vs 6% of men), and they are about three times as likely as men to say they have experienced repeated small slights at work because of their gender (16% vs 5%).”
As a society, we can help end discrimination by advocating for equal access to education, empowering women in the workforce, protecting reproductive rights, providing better medical care, lifting up those who are most marginalized, vocalizing the need to strengthen legal protections and encouraging better political and leadership representation.
Here are some key areas of focus that can help advance gender equality more quickly, according to the International Women’s Day website:
- Enforce and strengthen laws that promote gender equality, such as equal pay, reproductive rights and protection against gender-based violence
- Make sure that existing laws are fully implemented
- Support inclusive policies in key sectors such as education, healthcare and the workforce
- Ensure women's representation in decision-making processes
Let’s roll up our sleeves and continue the work to keep moving women forward.
Related Content
- Women and Money: Three Ways to Plan for the Future as Life Happens
- Women, What Is Your Net Worth?
- Women Kick Men's Butts When It Comes to Investing
- Gender Pay Gap Is a Triple Whammy for Women: How to Beat It
- Tips to Help Single Women Struggling to Save for Retirement
Profit and prosper with the best of Kiplinger's advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and much more. Delivered daily. Enter your email in the box and click Sign Me Up.

Marguerita M. Cheng is the Chief Executive Officer at Blue Ocean Global Wealth. She is a CFP® professional, a Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor℠ and a Retirement Income Certified Professional. She helps educate the public, policymakers and media about the benefits of competent, ethical financial planning.
-
46 Anti-Prime Day Tech Deals You Should Get from Best Buy's Black Friday in July Sale Instead
Apple, Blink, Garmin, Samsung and more leading tech brands are on sale at Best Buy's rival Prime Day sale this week.
-
Stock Market Today: Trump Reextends His Tariff Deadline
When it comes to this president, his trade war, the economy, financial markets and uncertainty, "known unknowns" are better than "unknown unknowns."
-
46 Anti-Prime Day Tech Deals You Should Get from Best Buy's Black Friday in July Sale Instead
Apple, Blink, Garmin, Samsung and more leading tech brands are on sale at Best Buy's rival Prime Day sale this week.
-
Stock Market Today: Trump Reextends His Tariff Deadline
When it comes to this president, his trade war, the economy, financial markets and uncertainty, "known unknowns" are better than "unknown unknowns."
-
Sam's Club Takes On Amazon Prime With Big Summer Savings — But Is It Worth Joining?
With longer sales and seasonal deals, Sam's Club is making a strong case for summer value. Here's how to save.
-
These Prime Day Deals Also Qualify for Disappearing Tax Credits
There are many items for sale during Amazon Prime Day that help make your home more energy efficient and can apply towards tax credits that will expire soon.
-
California, South Florida, Long Island, New Jersey: The Places People Are Leaving in Droves in 2025
Skyrocketing costs and shifting priorities mean people are packing up and leaving some cities and states in droves, while others are flocking to more affordable or lifestyle-friendly destinations.
-
Should You Start a 'Trump Account' for Your Child?
"Trump Accounts" for kids is part of the One Big, Beautiful Bill that was just signed. Look at if it's worth it for your children.
-
I'm a Financial Strategist: This Is the Investment Trap That Keeps Smart Investors on the Sidelines
Forget FOMO. FOGI — Fear of Getting In — is the feeling you need to learn how to manage so you don't miss out on future investment gains.
-
Can You Be a Good Parent to an Only Child When You're Also a Business Owner?
Author and social psychologist Susan Newman offers advice to business-owner parents on how to raise a well-adjusted single child by avoiding overcompensation and encouraging chores.