Editor’s Note this article was written By Erik Bigalk

As women continue to struggle and are faced with gender inequality in almost all areas of life, not only locally but around the globe, International Women’s Day on 8 March, reminds us we are still a long way off from achieving gender equality. Now, 111 years since the women’s rights protests began in 1911, the 8th of March has been established as a special internationally recognised occasion – a day where we put women on the map to highlight and celebrate their achievements despite the slanted gender opportunity balance. And, yet, although we have come leaps and bounds since the inaugural day, we still see too much of the unfair, dismissive and remaining patriarchal sentiment that permeates society, from career and business to the home; from sports to politics, and especially in finance and leadership.
Equality is, and always will remain, a two-gender job. Unless we do two things, the progression will remain at a pace that will take many years to see us achieving an equal and fair gender-based society. One – we have to call out and make known the occurrences of gender bias; any undermining, unfair treatment of and discrimination against women; and two – make the notion of celebrating both genders equally a daily practice, not one that occurs only once a year.
Many of us may imagine a gender-equal world, free from bias, stereotypes, or prejudice, where differences are valued, celebrated, and cultural diversity is included, rather than judged, but unless we take inclusive action, it will remain a one-sided vision.  Much has been achieved since 1911, and if the extent to which the equal pay for the USA women’s soccer team was recently celebrated is any indication, we have actually made considerable headway, yet clearly not enough. As such, we all, men and women alike, have to call out gender bias or discriminatory behaviour wherever it is found.

We also need to share our stories in order to encourage and empower each other to step up and stand up for gender equality, no matter what gender we are. The recently published bestselling ‘Humble Leaders’ book does this beautifully and subtly through the heartfelt and authentic sharing of twelve women’s stories of courage, strength, and perseverance, and how they were able to create positive change in their lives and impact in their careers and businesses. Stories connect us and we can relate through these and find the courage to speak up, to call out the remnants of inequality in all areas of life, and by sharing our own stories we can, in turn, inspire and empower others. This is the very reason why the book was written and published, to empower the reader.
As the publisher and co-curator of the ‘Humble Leaders’ book, I have long been outspoken about gender inequality and have encouraged the sharing of stories for the benefit of others and especially for the younger generations of girls and young women to follow in the footsteps of these empowered women.  To celebrate women everywhere, we are not only holding a series of ‘Humble Leaders’ mini book talks and signings at libraries and bookshops during the month of March along the Sunshine Coast, but more importantly, are hosting a live-streamed ‘Write Your Story’ workshop on 13 March to inspire, support and teach how to write your story. On the back of the success and impact the ‘Humble Leaders’ book is having, sharing your story can be immensely powerful and help women everywhere to continue to stay strong in the face of inequality and to work towards a more balanced future.

Whether you want to share your story in a blog, article, an anthology book like ‘Humble Leaders’ (available at Dymocks Books, independent bookshops and www.humbleleaders.co), or in your own book, it is the impact this can have on the lives of others and the effort toward gender equality it can have, that really matters. The book also directly funds 100 women living in impoverished communities in Africa to have access to business training and microloans, so by purchasing the book you will not only learn pearls of wisdom from twelve amazing women but empower disadvantaged women to create generational change.
With the theme for this year’s International Women’s Day being #BreakTheBias, there is no better way to let this spill out far and wide and well beyond the day itself, than by writing and sharing your story. You can register for the ‘Write Your Story’ online workshop at www.author-unleashed.com/wys or join face-to-face at the Sunshine Coast hinterland village of Eumundi.
The importance, apart from celebrating women on IWD and continuing to call out gender bias, is to ensure the sentiment of the day and the #BreakTheBias theme is carried forward into the remaining 364 days of the year.