PRESS FOR PROGRESS

Amidst the inspiration and celebration, it is important to acknowledge that there is still a way to go, but that should not undermine how far the movement has come. The 2017 World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report revealed that gender parity is over 200 years away.

The 2018 theme for International Women’s Day is #PressForProgress – it is “a strong call to motivate and unite friends, colleagues and whole communities to think, act and be gender inclusive” that is not only relevant for the day, or the month, but for the future. 

Here are 12 thoughtful and inspiring articles to celebrate International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month. 

Read on and #PressForProgress! 

Spotify launches a new hub dedicated to highlighting social causes in music, starting with Women’s History Month.

For its debut, Amplify is focusing on women to celebrate Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day. The hub is divided into several sections with titles like “Icons & influencers,” “Movements on the rise,” and “Her story,” all of which have themed playlists underneath with music and podcasts.

Seven women you may not know from history. 

The historical record of women making music extends back as far as the earliest histories and artifacts of musical performance.

A new low? Women in opera need change, but singing tenor roles isn’t it

Soprano Jennifer Johnston argues the suggestion that women can take on traditionally male roles at pitch ignores the nature and limits of our voices. 

Artists shout out the women that inspire them the most for International Women’s Day.

NME asks pop musicians about the females who inspire them the most (other than their mums).

Inclusivity of women in pop music isn't just poor — it's backsliding.

On average, women are “missing” from the field, according to a study from the University of Southern California. It found this was especially true in 2017, the year the #MeToo movement took flight, and when, as the study authors argue, “women forcibly took hold of the cultural conversation.”

Trad/roots: Fair Plé to women speaking up for equality in Irish music.

It's not just the movies and the media – there's gender inequality, a pay gap and sexism in Irish music too. Now a group called Fair Plé is encouraging female performers to find their voice and shout about it.

First Ever Australian Women in Music Awards Announced.

Celebrating the vast achievements of women in the Australian music industry.

How does #MeToo impact the Australian Music Industry?

Best Coast's Bethany Cosentino dubbed 2017 "the year of male consequence" following the rise of the #MeToo campaign. Jessica Dale explores the issue and how this has, and will, influence the Australian music industry.

Settling the score: celebrating the women erased from the musical canon.

Augusta Holmès’ compositions won awards and acclaim from admirers including Liszt and Saint-Saëns, so why is she, and so many of her female contemporaries, all but forgotten today?

These are the female innovators you should know about.

Celebrating women who are pushing boundaries across the fields of technology, science, design and innovation.

Leading Feminists on why Time’s Up and #MeToo mean there’s no going back.

A deeper look at the transformative moment for women and gender equality

Watch the Women's Day Around the World channel.

The New York Times documents how women around the world celebrated International Women's Day.