March 8 is International Women's Day (IWD) - a global day that celebrates the social, cultural, economic and political achievements of women.
International Women's Day aims to :
- celebrate women's achievements
- raise awareness about women's equality
- lobby for accelerated gender parity
- fundraise for female-focused charities
This year the IWD theme is 'Break the Bias'. Whether deliberate or unconscious, bias makes it difficult for women to move ahead. Knowing that bias exists isn't enough and action is needed to level the playing field.
Check out these resources from our Library collection that highlight stories and issues affecting women and the challenges and triumphs.
Emotional Female by Yumiko Kadota
Emotional Female is Yumiko's personal account of what it was like to train in the Australian public hospital system, and in the male dominated speciality of surgery, and what made her walk away. Yumiko Kadota is a voice for her generation when it comes to burnout and finding the resilience to rebuild after suffering a physical, emotional and existential breakdown from years of punishing overwork, bias, abuse and unrealistic expectations. This is a brave, honest and eye-opening work. Also checkout out the Bookchat about this title on The Open Book Podcast.
Invisible Women : Data bias in a World Designed for Men by Caroline Criado-Perez
Data is fundamental to the modern world. From economic development, to healthcare, to education and public policy, we rely on numbers to allocate resources and make crucial decisions. But because so much data fails to take into account gender, because it treats men as the default and women as atypical, bias and discrimination are baked into our systems. And women pay tremendous costs for this bias, in time, money, and often with their lives. Celebrated feminist advocate Caroline Criado Perez investigates the shocking root cause of gender inequality and research in Invisible Women, diving into women's lives at home, the workplace, the public square, the doctor's office, and more. Built on hundreds of studies in the US, the UK, and around the world, and written with energy, wit, and sparkling intelligence, this is a groundbreaking, unforgettable exposé that will change the way you look at the world.
Manifesto by Bernardine Evaristo
Bernardine Evaristo's 2019 Booker prize win - the first by a Black woman - was a revolutionary moment both for British culture and for her. After three decades as a trailblazing writer, teacher and activist, she moved from the margins to centre stage, taking her place in the spotlight at last. Her journey was a long one, but she made it, and she made history. Manifesto is Bernardine Evaristo's intimate and inspirational, no-holds-barred account of how she did it, refusing to let any barriers stand in her way. She charts her creative rebellion against the mainstream and her life-long commitment to the imaginative exploration of 'untold' stories. And drawing deeply on her own experiences, she offers a vital contribution to current conversations around social issues such as race, class, feminism, sexuality and aging. This is a unique book about staying true to yourself and to your vision. It's about how to be unstoppable - in your craft, your work, your life. It is Bernardine Evaristo's manifesto for never giving up.
Untold Resilience : Stories of Courage, Survival and Love from Women Who Have Gone Before by Future Women
What does it take to find courage in the midst of deprivation and devastation? Why are some people able to continue living with purpose, even when faced with loss and despair? How does our community turn challenge into triumph? And what can we learn from the exceptional women in our midst who have done just that? It might feel like we are living in unprecedented times but ours is not the first generation to withstand upheaval as seismic as the COVID-19 pandemic has caused. In every town and suburb in Australia, there are women from older generations who have encountered unimaginable difficulties before; women who have endured and survived. Their stories are proof of the incredible resilience of the female spirit.
The Advocates : Women Within the Australian Environmental Movement by Robyn Gulliver and Jill Ferguson
Nine never-before-told stories of remarkable women and their courageous pursuits of climate justice in Australia. From boardrooms to blockade camps, from the lush East Gippsland forests to the golden Ningaloo Reef, the fight against environmental destruction takes place in many spaces. The Advocates tells the inside story of women within the Australian environmental movement and the behind-the-scenes efforts that have helped power advocacy across Australia.
Black and Blue : a Memoir of Racism and Resilience by Veronica Gorrie
The story of an Aboriginal woman who worked as a police officer and fought for justice both within and beyond the Australian police force. A proud Kurnai woman, Veronica Gorrie grew up dauntless, full of cheek and a fierce sense of justice. After watching her friends and family suffer under a deeply compromised law-enforcement system, Gorrie signed up for training to become one of a rare few Aboriginal police officers in Australia. In her ten years in the force, she witnessed appalling institutional racism and sexism, and fought past those things to provide courageous and compassionate service to civilians in need, many Aboriginal themselves. Black and Blue is a memoir of remarkable fortitude and resilience, told with wit, wisdom, and great heart. Winner of the Victorian Prize for Literature and the Prize for Indigenous Writing 2022.
Barty: Much More than Tennis by Ron Reed
Of all the uplifting sports stories that have captured the imagination of Australia as a nation, few have been greeted with such spontaneous and unanimous acclaim as tennis champion Ashleigh Barty. Her inspirational 2021 Wimbledon win delivered a celebration not seen since Cathy Freeman's immortal Olympic triumph 21 years ago. This book covers her journey from knockabout kid from Queensland to world champion (and now Australian Open Champion) and explores her rare gift for the game, engaging personality, innate modesty and relentless determination to be the best. Barty's mantra is that being a good human being is far more important than being a good tennis player, and it has been widely hailed as a lesson for all.
Girl, Trans-cending: becoming the woman I was born to be by A.J. Clementine
A.J. Clementine always knew she was a girl. The problem was, she'd been born in a 'magical' shell that looked, on the outside, like a perfect little boy. In her teens, this conflict between her outer and inner selves exploded, igniting years of anxiety and panic attacks. In Girl, Trans-cending, AJ shares the journey of her gender transition, what it was like to grow up Wasian in a blended family, and her transformation into a model, digital creator and transgender advocate. Honest, positive and empowering, A.J. shines a light on her path to self-love and acceptance - the hardest bits, the parts we rarely see - in the hopes of a brighter, more inclusive future for all.
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