#PledgeforParity this International Women’s Day
This year the theme for International Women’s Day 2016 is #PledgeforParity – to celebrate the achievement of women worldwide who have contributed to social, economic, cultural and political spheres and at the same time take action to increase the progress towards gender parity, which has slowed down in many places.
When it comes to the advertising industry – the IPA has taken up the challenge to increase the percentage of women in senior roles and to promote gender parity.
Have you ever thought that women are the most powerful consumers – making 85% of all purchasing decisions be it food, technology, cars, houses, pharmaceuticals, household products – women hold the household purse strings, even if they are housewives.
However, there are very few female creative directors – in 2008, just 3.6% of the world’s creative directors were female. Since then it has tripled to 11%; in London the figure is about 14% – still quite low.
But it is time to change; and we at Here and Now 365 support the International Women’s Day 2016 theme #PledgeforParity by the representation of women at our agency – thereby even understanding the consumers we reach out to – the women.
While only 24.6% of the creative staff, 43% of the account management and planning staff and 48% of the media planning and buying staff are women in UK based agencies, at Here and Now 365 women make up 60% of the agency.
Account Director, Here and Now 365 Preet Khanna said: “With 60% of the women in senior positions across the creative, media buying and account management departments, it gives us immense pride to be striving for parity in an atmosphere where gender equality is being questioned. As an organisation we not only #PledgeforParity but proactively be the change we want to see.”
