The Radical Power of Listening: Building Cohesion through Women’s Voices on International Women’s Day

As the world continues to grapple with systemic inequalities, societal divisions, political mistrust, and climate crises, there is an urgent call for a shift in how we engage with one another – an invitation to recalibrate our approach to listening. On International Women’s Day, amidst the usual celebrations and proclamations of progress, a more radical conversation should emerge: the power of listening, especially to women, and how it can reshape the global landscape of unity, empathy, and shared humanity.

In an era where amplification and visibility often take centre stage, there’s something profoundly radical about simply listening. It’s not just about hearing voices, but about actively engaging with them, understanding their roots, their struggles, their dreams, and their visions for a better world. For women, especially those from marginalized backgrounds, being truly listened to is not just an act of respect, but an act of liberation.

Throughout history, women have fought for the right to speak, to be heard, to occupy spaces of power and influence. From suffragettes demanding the right to vote to activists pushing for the end of gender-based violence, women’s voices have often been marginalized or dismissed. Yet, in the fight for gender equality, perhaps the most radical step is to listen, not in a tokenistic way, but in a genuine, transformative manner.

What if, as a global community, we stopped talking over one another, stopped assuming we knew the answers, and instead focused on what others were saying? What if we acknowledged that listening, in its deepest sense, is the bedrock of true cohesion? Cohesion, after all, isn’t built by silencing others; it’s built by understanding their perspectives, acknowledging their truths, and working together to overcome shared challenges.

Too often, women’s voices have been relegated to the margins, dismissed as “emotional,” “irrational,” or “unrealistic.” The consequence is not just inequality but a fractured world that fails to see the whole picture. Women, particularly those from oppressed groups, are living at the intersection of multiple crises—economic, environmental, racial, and gender-based. They hold wisdom, experience, and insight that could bridge the divides that separate us. But that knowledge is too often ignored, sidelined, or undervalued.

On International Women’s Day, we must ask: What would a world look like if women were truly listened to in all sectors – politics, education, business, sport, music and beyond? What if instead of dismissing the calls for climate justice, economic reform, or social equality, we took those voices seriously and worked collectively toward solutions? The cohesion we desperately need can’t be built without recognizing and addressing the very real issues that women face on a daily basis.

It’s not just about hearing the words; it is about engaging with the underlying truths. Listening is about opening space for the unheard, creating opportunities for those who have historically been silenced to share their stories. But this listening must be intentional, compassionate, and intersectional.

International Women’s Day is a critical moment in which to reflect on these questions, but the work doesn’t end with a day of celebration. It’s a reminder that the real challenge lies in creating systems that make space for women’s voices 365 days a year. This isn’t a call for merely adding more women to boardrooms or political offices (though that is a crucial step), but a deeper, more systemic change – one in which women are not only seen but listened to as equals, as co-creators of the future.

By incorporating the diverse voices of women into global conversations, we can begin to repair fractured systems. Women are on the frontlines of climate change, economic reform, peacebuilding, and social justice. In many ways, they are the stewards of the future. But in order for their wisdom to manifest in real change, they must be invited into the spaces of power, not just as tokens, but as full partners in decision-making.

How can we take action? It begins with small, yet powerful shifts in how we communicate:

1. Active, Empathetic Listening: In our conversations, whether in politics, community work, or personal relationships, we must approach listening as an active process. We need to listen not only to respond, but to truly understand the speaker’s lived experience and worldview.
2. Creating Safe Spaces for Vulnerability: Women, especially those from marginalized communities, often face tremendous vulnerability when sharing their stories. We need to create spaces where these stories can be told without fear of judgment or retaliation, where women are empowered to share their truths freely.
3. Shifting Power Dynamics: Listening involves shifting power. Those who hold power must be willing to step back and create space for others to speak. This requires the humility to acknowledge that the answers we need might come from the most unlikely sources.
4. Intersectionality at the Forefront: Women are not a monolith. Their experiences are shaped by their race, class, sexual orientation, disability, and many other factors. Listening must be intersectional, recognizing the complexity of women’s experiences across different identities.
5. Listening Beyond the Words: Often, what’s not said is just as important as what is. Non-verbal cues, body language, and context all offer essential insights. Truly listening to women means acknowledging the full spectrum of communication, including silence, hesitation, and implied meaning.

As we celebrate International Women’s Day, let’s also look toward the future. A future in which women’s voices are at the heart of global cohesion. A future where listening to women is not a formality but a transformative practice that influences every facet of society. A future where gender equality isn’t just about the presence of women in positions of power, but about the active and sustained engagement of their perspectives in shaping that power.

As I have mentioned already, the world doesn’t need more noise; it needs more understanding. It needs a collective, radical shift toward listening. And in doing so, we may just unlock the cohesion needed to build a more just, peaceful, and united world for all.

So, this International Women’s Day, let’s commit to more than just a nod of recognition. Let’s commit to real listening – a listening that can change the course of history.

Dame Evelyn Glennie