It’s International Women’s Day.

I should be writing some empowering, feel-good post about how amazing women are (because, let’s be honest, we ARE). I should be sharing inspirational quotes, posting pictures of incredible women throughout history, and reminding everyone how far we’ve come.

But instead, despite all the hashtags and flowery marketing campaigns, women are STILL fighting the same bloody battles we’ve been fighting for generations.

We’re still fighting to be paid the same as men for doing the same damn job. We’re still fighting to walk home at night without clutching our keys like weapons. We’re still fighting to be believed when we say “he hurt me.” We’re still fighting to make our own choices about our own bodies without a bunch of men in suits deciding for us.

And while we’re at it, let’s talk about all the amazing women who don’t get a look-in today. The single mums scraping by. The carers working ridiculous hours for a pittance. The women holding up entire households, workplaces, and communities without a shred of recognition. Where are their inspirational Instagram graphics? Where’s their standing ovation?

As a mum of three boys and a little girl, this stuff keeps me up at night. I’m raising my sons to respect women, to challenge inequality when they see it, to understand that the world should be fair for everyone, not just those born with privilege. And my daughter? I want her to know she can be loud, strong, and take up space. That she never has to shrink herself to make others comfortable.

I’m also a business owner. I know what it’s like to work twice as hard to be taken seriously, to juggle motherhood and a career, to push past the stereotypes that say I should be at home baking instead of running a successful business. Women are out here doing it all, every single day, and still, we have to fight for basic respect and equality.

So yeah, I love that International Women’s Day exists. I love that we get to shout about the achievements of incredible women. But I won’t pretend that a few social media posts and some token gestures from companies who underpay and undervalue women the other 364 days of the year are enough.

We deserve more. We deserve safety. We deserve respect. We deserve EQUALITY.

So celebrate today, sure. But don’t stop there. Call out the sexism you see every day. Teach your sons to be better men. Teach your daughters that they are never “less than.” Support the women around you, not just today, but always.

Because we’re not done yet. And we won’t be, until every single one of us is free to live, work, and exist without fear, inequality, or oppression.

Happy International Women’s Day. Now let’s get back to work.