The Creation of International Women’s Day
International Women’s Day – March 8 – a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women and encourage women as they work towards gender equality. It is a time for reflection on progress made, to recognize the role of those influential in women’s movements throughout history, call attention to gender disparity in society today, and work toward positive change advancing women.
It all began 176 years ago on this exact day when female textile workers marched in protest of unfair working conditions and unequal rights for women. It was one of the first organized strikes by working women. Just over 50 years later, on March 8, 1908, female workers marched through New York City to protest child labor, sweatshop working conditions, and demand women’s suffrage. In 1910, March 8 began being annually observed as International Women’s Day.
Celebrating International Women’s Day at Penn Community Bank
With special attention today and throughout Women’s History Month, we recognize the strengths of our female team members and the unique skills and perspectives they bring to making Penn Community Bank one of America’s Best Regional Banks. Throughout March, we are resurfacing the stories of female team members and highlighting topics related to the cause.
We encourage team members to show their support for women by wearing the colors of International Women’s Day – purple, green, and white. Purple symbolizes justice, dignity, and loyalty, green represents hope, and white signifies purity.
Today more than ever, institutions are answering the call and seeking to level the playing field when it comes to women in the workplace. However, Deloitte reports that women make up just 9% of financial services industry c-suite executives. Moreover, a recent study showed just 2% of banks with $1 – $5 billion in assets are led by a female CEO. Penn Community Bank ($2.6 billion in assets) is proudly an outlier to these statistics: The bank – the largest independent mutual institution in eastern Pennsylvania – has been headed by Jeane M. Vidoni (President/CEO) for nearly 10 years and, in addition to Vidoni, our leadership team is 50% female. To learn more about diversity and female representation within our organization, please read our Women’s Equality Day blog.
Penn Community Bank’s Women’s Employee Resource Group (ERG), led by Credit Portfolio Manager Rebecca Atkins, works to cultivate an inclusive environment that supports and encourages women to advance their skills and leadership potential through connection, mentorship, collaboration, and discussion. Now with over two years of meetings and dozens of team members strong, the impact of the Women’s ERG is evident in the connection and growth among female employees.
Over the years, we’ve given voice to the inspiring stories of women within our organization. In case you missed it, celebrate International Women’s Day by checking out these incredible women and their stories:
Reflections During Women’s History Month with Sue Matthias – Former Branch Manager, Riegelsville
Reflection During Women’s History Month with Sannia Naz – Branch Manager, The Fairway Branch
From Classroom to Career: Kyra Flexer, Senior HR Recruiting Intern
