International Women's Day 2024
#InspireInclusion
What is IWD?
International Women's Day (marked on March 8) is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating women's equality.
IWD has occurred for well over a century, with the first IWD gathering in 1911 supported by over a million people. Today, IWD belongs to all groups collectively everywhere. IWD is not country, group or organization specific.
The 2024 IWD theme is inspire inclusion, with the central aim to inspire greater sense of belonging, relevance, and empowerment.
Supporting IWD
Play Badminton Club has always celebrated and supported International Women’s Day with the aim of celebrating women’s achievement and raise awareness about discrimination, while striving for equality and inclusion of women in all aspects of life.
Throughout the years Play Badminton Club has continued to introduce new and innovative sessions, ranging from regular playing sessions, training and coaching for children and adults, women’s only, seniors’, family sessions and launching a Vegan Badminton League as well as Empower Badminton. We have done this to cater for the various members in the club and to serve the local community.
Play Badminton Club will always remain a not-for-profit social club welcoming to all badminton players regardless of age, sex, ethnic background, sexual orientation, religion or belief, and disability.
Women in Badminton
As we celebrate International Women’s Day this year, we note the development of women in badminton at our Club. Since the relaxation of lockdowns and exercising guidance following the COVID pandemic, the Club has seen a remarkable increase in interest from people in the local area to join and play at the Club. The proportion of women to men was still low and many local clubs are male dominated and often with no real effort to be inclusive of women players.
Wanting to change this, in 2022 our Club Ambassador, Bhavni Shah, initiated a monthly women’s only badminton session, after gathering feedback from members. Soon after our Club become an approved supporter of This Girl Can campaign. Two years on, our Club has seen a marked increase in women players. This led to the largest women’s badminton competition in the Club’s history in 2023.
Providing an inclusive, friendly, fun, safe and positive environment where women players of all ability can come and play, has encouraged more women to take up badminton locally. This in turn has inspired more girls (often daughters of our members) to join our children’s badminton training sessions.
Breaking barriers
There are many reasons why girls and women do not exercise or are not active, as research by Sport England and This Girl Can campaign reveals. Some of the barriers or challenges highlighted are worrying of being judged, lacking confidence, not having time, sport not seen as important in some cultures. This has also created a gender enjoyment gap. Exercising and playing sport can create enjoyment, it’s good for physical health as well as socialising.
The gender activity gap will not be closed overnight, but by inspiring inclusion through taking initiatives and creating a better environment for women and girls to play sports in, enjoy it and thrive in, we at Play Badminton Club endeavour to take huge strides towards true gender equality, inclusion and help reduce the enjoyment gap.
Play Badminton Club has always tried to be the most inclusive, friendly, fun, social club in the local area.