By Dr. Amy Reynolds, Associate Professor of Sociology, Wheaton College

Editor’s Note: The themes discussed in this article may be extremely difficult, so please exercise caution when reading.

Honouring Women, Facing Reality

On International Women’s Day, we celebrate the ways women across the world—and throughout history—have shaped the story of humanity for the better. Yet even as we honour their contributions, we must reckon with a sobering truth: women everywhere continue to suffer disproportionately from violence and injustice.

This reality takes many forms, including female infanticide, malnourishment, domestic and sexual abuse, sex trafficking, rape used as a weapon of war, lack of consent in marriage, and inadequate maternal health care.

While the extent and expression of gender-based violence vary across contexts, its presence affects women everywhere. A university student remains hyper-aware of the risk of assault, altering her plans to avoid being alone at night. A young professional turns down opportunities due to safety concerns tied to late hours or power dynamics in the workplace. A girl in a neighbourhood affected by violence stops attending school to avoid unsafe routes. A married woman weighs which abusive situation might offer the least harm. An asylum seeker undertakes a dangerous journey, knowing the risk of assault, but hopes for a safer future for her children.

These stories differ, but they share a common thread: the pervasive reality of fear and constraint.

The Hidden Cost of Fear

Those working in global development and community contexts are deeply aware of the number of girls, women, and boys who have survived violence. The effects are profound and long-lasting—physical, emotional, and social—regardless of geography.

Yet even those who have not experienced direct violence often live under its shadow. For many, daily decisions involve calculating risk: weighing personal safety against access to education, employment, and community life. This constant negotiation limits freedom, agency, and the ability to flourish.

Charities, churches, and community organizations around the world strive to create safer spaces for those who have been marginalized or harmed. They respond to brokenness, offer support, and seek justice. And yet, too often, a quiet acceptance emerges—that fear and risk are unavoidable parts of life for women and girls.

A Call to Justice and Shared Responsibility

The words of the prophet Isaiah challenge us to something deeper: to confront injustice and address the systems that allow harm to persist. Calling people to repentance, Isaiah urges a turning away from empty religious practice toward genuine justice—defending the vulnerable and addressing the root causes of inequality.

What might it look like, today, to confront the unequal structures within our societies—economic, cultural, legal—that fail to protect the vulnerable? How do we acknowledge the ways we may contribute to or benefit from these systems? And how do we walk in solidarity with those who have experienced harm, while also supporting pathways toward accountability and restoration?

As followers of Christ, the call extends beyond personal faith. It includes advocating against harmful laws and ideologies, uplifting those who have been silenced, and participating in the work of dismantling systems that perpetuate injustice.

Complex challenges require thoughtful and collective responses. Across the global Church and development community, this work takes many forms:

• offering education to challenge beliefs that justify violence,
• equipping communities to hold perpetrators accountable,
• supporting women in leadership as they influence policy and systems,
• and building partnerships that promote justice and restoration.

As we reflect on International Women’s Day, we are invited to consider what repentance and renewal might look like in our own communities and societies. The vision is one of restoration—where justice leads, and all people can live in dignity, freedom, and peace.

“Zion will be redeemed with justice, her penitent ones with righteousness.” – Isaiah 1:27

Learn More: Explore ways to take action against gender-based violence and download resources for reflection and advocacy today.