How about an International Men's Day? Just kidding; or am I?

11/03/11: How about an international Men's Day? Just kidding; or am I? I am glad I got your attention. The answer to the first question by the majority of women is of course every other day is International Men's Day! I say we should salute the men who support women and who are doing their damndest to help women be happy and content and complete in the workforce. My children's father is one of them and I can name many of my clients who do the same.

My own office is equal in terms of gender and what a great place it is too! I may be a rarity but on the whole I am surrounded by men who enjoy encouraging and supporting women and are keen to see me succeed. There are a few exceptions, of course. There are some "negative examples" of men who can't champion diversity and who, I fear, may never change. Those examples are infuriating, exasperating and eye-opening.

Men who are stuck in the Dark Ages and still resort to speaking to me like I should be washing their feet or running to get them a drink while discussing strategy or improvements in planning. To those who can't quite see the light, I hope with good counsel (from men and women) I will continue to demonstrate the strong power of a professional female who can act with grace, and move through the barbs and hurdles they place before us, to come out the other side.

In contrast, to all sisters suffering right now — and who often have little choice when they're blocked from promotion or lack encouragement — I stand beside you. It promises to get better. And with your stories heard, it must do.

So what about the celebrations for the 100th International Women's Day? While we have come a long way since 1970 (when women weren't allowed to drink in public bars in Queensland or sign for their own mortgage without a man's signature) we still have a way to go. I am an advocate of equal opportunity, equal rights and the right of women to be appointed to the top positions if we want them, and not if we don't!

Around the world women do two-thirds of the world's work, produce half of the world's food, earn just 10 percent of the world's income and own 1 percent of the world's property. Women make up 70 percent of the world's poor. While Australia started out well in the gender diversity battle, we have slowed in our progress both domestically and in advocacy overseas. The stats speak for themselves:

• Women make up 52 percent of the population of Australia and 46 percent of the workforce. However, last year women made up just 3 percent of chief executives of the top 200 companies on the Australian Securities Exchange.  
• Women make up a mere 9.2 percent of board members on the ASX200 company boards and only 12 percent of executive management positions.  
• Almost 40 years after Australia's first federal equal pay case began, women's wages are stuck at only 84 percent of male earnings. For part-time work, women earn only 64 percent of male part-time earnings.  
• Female tertiary graduates earn $2000 less than male graduates in their first job, and $7500 less after five years in the workforce. The average Australian woman will earn almost $1 million less over her lifetime than the average Australian man.

This week, events have been held around the globe and women have come together to discuss their futures, fight for their rights and celebrate the opportunities they are hoping for. More than 240 events were held across Australia on Wednesday. I for one was lucky enough to speak to a group of women from UXC who were openly supported by their male management and wouldn't want to work anywhere else.

I want to live in a country where:

• my daughters will have the same opportunities as my son;
• it is ensured women earn the same as men;
• flexible working arrangements and breakfast meetings before 9am will be thought twice of, with respect for working mothers getting children to school;
• men, who dominate our leadership and management positions will open their eyes and encourage corporate female talent rising through the ranks to join them; and
• women will have the courage not to back down in the face of glass-ceiling idiocy, but to forge ahead with strength and grace.

Meanwhile, these @_SheSuccess tweets are a good laugh. Enjoy some of my favourites:

Hall of Shame: #internationalwomensday To all clothes washing liquid adverts for only featuring women doing the laundry. It's not 1950.

Hall of Shame: #internationalwomensday @QantasAirways For asking male passengers would they like a newspaper and females would they like a mag.

Hall of Shame: @VirginAtlantic for demanding female crew wear skirts. Great airline, crap policy. Demand change now.

And now, over to you for your opinions on the idea of having an International Men's Day!

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