In this week’s post, I wanted to write about International Women’s Month, as I was unfamiliar with it, and I had seen a lot of coverage over the past few weeks in the news and on social media.

So, what is International Women’s Month (IWD)?

IWD is a month dedicated to the advancement of women worldwide. Marked by millions of people on March 8, 2025, IWD celebrates women’s social, economic, cultural, and political achievements and calls for action to accelerate gender equality. IWD provides a platform for engaging with communities, reflecting on progress, and committing to positive action. Participation in IWD ensures that progress toward equality remains on the global agenda and positive action prevails.

I have had a good life and a successful career as a woman. I have not felt bullied or ignored in my career as a nurse. I have been blessed with a loving and supportive husband who has been my biggest supporter in all my endeavors. I know this is not true for many women, and their lives have been difficult, hurtful, and complex. Yet, amazingly, they carry on. I wonder if I would be as strong if challenged as they were.

In the 2024 National Election, Kamala Harris was put in a difficult position as she stepped up to run for President after Joe Biden said he would not run. For the first time in my adult life, I saw bias, resentment, and little support as she developed her campaign, especially from her party, let alone the many voters. I know there are thousands of reasons for this. I am not trying to start a political debate by mentioning it in this post, but I am using it as an example of the inequalities against one woman. In the end, people voted for the candidate who, in my opinion, was not qualified and pitted the country against each other in his words and actions. Is our country this narrow-minded that its people would vote for a convicted felon vs. a woman who was more qualified for the position and would have led the country in a very different direction? I am still shaking my head.

Over the years, many family members, friends, and colleagues have supported me personally and professionally in all my endeavors. I appreciate their support and work to do my best to live up to their expectations.

As nursing is primarily female, many peers and colleagues have supported and recognized me for my work. I have also supported and recognized many women who were doing important work. I continued to do this because I respected them and their work. Not to be one-sided, I have also respected men, and (maybe naively) I thought that was what life was about.

This year, as part of International Women’s Month, I was honored to be recognized for my work in workers’ compensation as a nurse case manager leader. Dr. Claire Musselman, a leader in the field and part of the editorial team for Workers Compensation.com, produced profiles on women leaders in the workers’ compensation space. Click here to read my shout-out.

The series made me realize, maybe for the first time, that WE, WOMEN, need to support each other and stand up to ensure we are heard and respected. We must also use our voices to call for change when equity, inclusion, and diversity are not being practiced. As a result, from now on, I will be more aware of the inequities many women face and will do my best to support them in their work and lives. We have to stand together!

Thank you for reading this post. Have a good week!