No abstract

More recently, International Women's Day aims to recognise the achievements of women, but also the challenges women face -with a strong focus on the rights of women and gender equality. A popular quote used to promote International Women's Day comes from Gloria Steinem, who suggests that "the story of women's struggle for equality belongs to no single feminist nor to any one organization but to the collective efforts of all who care about human rights," 3 -echoing many of our own definitions of public health 4,5,6 and our focus on collective action to improve and promote health, and work towards equity in health by minimising avoidable unfair disparities in health -some need the bigger box of opportunity to see over the fence! Some notable achievements of women which can be recognised include: Marie Curie being the first person to ever receive two Nobel Prizes; New Zealand women voting for the first time in nation-wide elections as early as 1893; Valentina Tereshkova's journey into space; introduction of Equality Pay legislation; access to sexual and reproductive health services;