International Womxn’s Day Reflections

How has it already been a month since IWD?

Normally The Georgie Collective keeps it digital for International Womxn’s Day, and that had been a strategic decision to avoid adding to the saturation of the time. However, this year I was presented with two meaningful opportunities that were too good to pass up. As a business owner, and notorious over-thinker I had to make sure my presence, as me, Matilda Coy, Founder and Chief Queen Collector of The Georgie Collective was authentically contributing and adding some real value without just making noise. It had to be driven by purpose.

Before I continue, if you’re new here in all our communications at The Georgie Collective we use the spelling ‘womxn’ as an intentional decision used at the intersection of feminism. It is an alternative spelling to avoid the suggestion of sexism perceived in the sequences m-a-n and m-e-n, and to be inclusive of trans and non-binary womxn.

The activations began on the eve of IWD, cohosting an event with the absolute powerful Amelia Birke, from Famelia. Amelia curates a warm, friendly, familiar environment that heroes womxn in wine and hospitality all year round. We both create spaces that hero female stories, celebrate achievements and connect with one another. Our impact is tangible every day of the year. Our aim for the event was simple: Challenge the tokenism of International Womxn’s Day by fostering conversations that provoke new thinking and new perspectives. 

Next, I facilitated a Lunch and Learn workshop for a local creative agency, delving into my Masters research on the complexities of imposter syndrome in womxn. Through The Georgie Collective's lens, we had powerful conversations that spanned across industry dynamics and influences, self-reflection and socialised narratives.

At the heart of The Georgie Collective is a simple mission: creating a safe space for womxn to connect and grow. While these parameters can be challenging at times it was built from the authentic truth of trying to create a feeling of familiarity, of that best friends hug… and really to make other womxn feel the same way my best friend Georgie used to make me feel when she was on our earth. However, for IWD this year both events that I ran were open to all genders, and here’s what I learnt…

Firstly, when it comes to IWD inclusivity is the name of the game. It's not just about womxn; it's about inviting everyone to join the conversation and ensure it’s not just womxn doing the work. Attitudes were refreshingly open, showing that everyone craves these discussions, even if they don't always have the chance to have them.

We know that sadly in 2024 some companies still don’t get it. Whilst all the organisations I worked with this year were inspiring and truly understood the brief, I am also a womxn, a womxn who is surrounded by stories and statistics of organisations that simply miss the mark. They talk the talk on gender equality but fail to walk the walk. It's frustrating to hear and see boardrooms lacking diversity and events being thrown together for IWD last-minute with no real substance. We need real action, not just lip service.

Let's talk about ‘resilience’—why is it often seen as a gendered term? And more importantly, how can we challenge this notion in our daily lives? It's time to break free from these outdated stereotypes and celebrate resilience as a universal trait, not confined to any gender. We shouldn’t live in a world where womxn are categorised by the hardship of what they’ve overcome.

Lastly, people want to connect, to talk, and be challenged. But sometimes they need an invitation to do so. Let's keep creating these spaces where everyone feels welcome to share their thoughts and experiences openly. After all, it's in these conversations that real change begins to take shape.

Queens, as I continue to grow The Georgie Collective, I remain committed to nurturing it as a womxn-only community—a haven where our voices are heard, our stories celebrated, and our dreams nurtured outside of the patriarchal structures of which we exist. However, on an occasion such as International Womxn’s Day its powerful to invite the men in to discuss and share views… we can’t continue to all the work now can we?