The theme for International Women’s Day 2026 was ‘Balance the Scales’ which invited us to explore the disparity women and girls face when trying to shape their own lives compared to their male counterparts. Discriminatory laws, policies, and practices persist, gender-based violence remains and too many girls and women don’t have a say in how they want to live their lives.
Head and Deputy Head Prefects, Chloe and Abbie, spoke to the School community about the importance of International Women’s Day in the annual assembly stating ‘International Women’s Day is about celebrating progress. It is about recognising the women who have shaped history in science, politics, education, the arts, business, and in our own families and communities. It’s about acknowledging strength, resilience, intelligence, and leadership in all its forms. But more importantly, it is about remembering that progress did not just happen by accident. It happened because people were brave enough to challenge injustice and determined enough to demand change.’
‘But at the same time, International Women’s Day reminds us that the work isn’t finished. Around the world, many girls and women still face barriers to education, leadership, personal safety, and equal opportunities. In many countries, girls are still fighting for the right to attend school. Women are still underrepresented in leadership positions. Inequality, bias, and stereotypes continue to shape experiences and limit potential. Women and girls are subjected to violence. That is why this day is not only a celebration but also a call to awareness and action. It asks us not just to be grateful for progress, but to be responsible for continuing it.’
While the 8th of March is a celebration, it is also a day to remember that as a society we don’t have it right for 50% of the population. It is important for businesses, organisations and schools to hold these tough but important conversations in the hope that our community will be a force for continued change. Doing so can ensure that our girls can recognise what is acceptable, to understand that gender-based discrimination and violence is never okay, and to be brave enough to call it out.
Building on these themes, we were fortunate to welcome back two Old Scholars, Sarah Goulding (Selwyn 1988) and Genevieve Lewis (Kennion 2003) to speak to the Middle and Senior School students during the Assembly. Sarah is a global leader in gender equality, disability rights and inclusive development. She is currently working for The Hunger Project, Australia. The Hunger Project aims to drive change by helping stop early and forced marriages for female adolescents. Their goal is to keep girls in schools for as long as possible; they also support the girls to stand up to their families to prevent forced marriages. Genevieve is a member on the Board of The Zahra Foundation – a not-for-profit which supports women impacted by domestic abuse by providing programs, services, and financial aid. Genevieve shared her family’s story and the work that The Zahra Foundation does. Sarah and Genevieve invited us all to think about the world we live in and the challenges that women and girls both locally and globally face.
International Women’s Day at Saints Girls is always a wonderful day filled with lots of celebration. In addition to the fun, ribbons, cupcakes and inspirational chalk drawings, we also hope our community was challenged to think about the work that is still to happen and ways in which they can do this to help create a society in which all girls and women are safe, supported and have control over their own lives.
Lauren Sutton
Deputy Principal & Head of Senior School
