On the 8th of March, the world celebrates International Women’s Day. A global event commemorating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. We will be rebranding as Waterwomans for the day. And as part of the celebrations, a group of us ladies will be taking part in a sunrise dip at Portobello Beach.
Some of the team are already members of the outdoor swimming community but for many of us, this will be the first plunge. Caroline Bennie, our Head of People and regular wild swimmer discussed why she floated the idea to the team,
“Taking those first steps into cold water is a challenge! It’s about taking a bold step because once you’ve silenced the voice in your head, you will feel the benefits. The culture we encourage at Watermans is so similar. We understand that experimenting with innovative ways of working, learning a new skill or progressing in your career can generate the same feelings – anxiety coupled with real excitement!”
After some businesses were scolded for their attempts at acknowledging IWD last year and accused of “virtue signalling”, Caroline explained that Watermans are making real changes and are cautious of not just partaking in a shallow PR stunt.
“Whilst we appreciate every member of our team, we understand the additional barriers that women can face at work. That’s why this year, we are redeveloping our child-friendly policies and introducing additional support for areas such as menopause.”
International Women’s Day was launched on 19th March 1911 and has been gaining momentum ever since. This year’s theme is #EmbraceEquity, highlighting the difference between ‘equity’ and ‘equality’ – and why is it important to understand, acknowledge and value. The idea is to get people discussing why equal opportunities are no longer enough – and can in fact be exclusionary, rather than inclusive.
Best of luck to the Waterwomans and everyone else braving the North Sea today. If you see us, give us a wave.