Women's Day: Celebrating achievements and fights for gender equality

Did you know that BusPlana was founded in 1964 by Teresa and Josep Plana Monné, two brothers? At that time it was unusual to find women in management positions. In contrast, BusPlana has promoted gender equality as one of the priorities within the company since its beginnings. Today, 50% of BusPlana's management is made up of women. 

The origin of International Women's Day dates back to 1908, when a group of women workers in New York organised a protest against the inhumane working conditions and low wages they received. This demonstration became an important milestone in the struggle for labour rights and women's suffrage.  

Since then, 8 March has been a day to remember the courage and sacrifice of women who have fought for gender equality around the world. The official celebration of International Women's Day began in 1975, when the United Nations (UN) designated 8 March as International Women's Day.  

This year's theme for 2023 is "Towards an Inclusive Digital World: Innovation and Technology for Gender Equality". This theme revolves around empowering girls and women around the world to achieve gender equality in innovation and technological change through education in this digital age. 

Throughout history, women have faced numerous obstacles in the pursuit of gender equality. Although significant progress has been made in the fight for women's rights, there are still many inequalities that need to be addressed. One of the main inequalities is the gender pay gap, which still exists worldwide. According to the UN, women earn on average 23% less than men worldwide.  

In addition to the wage gap, women also face obstacles in access to education, health care and political participation. In many countries, women do not have equal access to education, which limits their opportunities for personal and professional development.  

This new digital era has exposed and amplified many new gender inequalities, especially in the workplace, as women have been particularly affected by job loss. Despite these challenges, women have once again demonstrated their strength and resilience in the fight for gender equality. Women leaders around the world have rallied efforts to mitigate these impacts on society, and have fought for inclusion and social justice in all spheres of life.  

International Women's Day is an opportunity to recognise and celebrate these achievements, as well as to highlight the struggles they still face around the world. It is a day to honour their courage and determination in their struggle for gender equality, and to commit ourselves to continue working together for a fairer and more equal future for all.  

At BusPlana, we aim to continue encouraging diversity and gender equality, while supporting professional and personal growth and development within the company. We have extraordinary women who play key roles in the success of our company and we will keep promoting equality in the workplace.   

Every day, our drivers drive hundreds of kilometres connecting different points of the Catalan geography (Tarragona, Barcelona, Reus, Salou, Cambrils, Valls, etc). Therefore, make sure not to miss any of the events that will be taking place to celebrate Women’s Day in Costa Dorada or its surroundings. In Barcelona and other localities in the area such as Tarragona, Reus and Cambrils, among others, different events and rallies are organised to support this important day. For example, you can see for free the Nativitat Yarza Planas exhibition at Pati Jaume I, Tarragona, from the March 8th at 11:00h to the March 31st at 20:00. On the other hand, you can attend the presentation of the book “La vida de la vida” by Katherine Mansfeld at the Central Library in Reus.  There will also be a high-level international event at 10:00 am US time (GMT-5) and 4:00 pm Spanish time. It will bring together technology specialists, government representatives and activists, among others, to discuss the responsibilities and role of the entire digital system in improving access to digital tools and reducing the gender digital divide.