Translation Services and International Women’s Day:

International Women’s Day, celebrated worldwide on March 8th, has been observed in some form since the early 1900s. This United Nations-promoted holiday is observed in a myriad of ways worldwide, varying based on local culture and state of gender equity. Every year, the UN declares a theme for the holiday. This year’s theme is “embrace equity.” The holiday is yearly, but Lionbridge doesn’t stop there. As a language service provider, we work year-round to promote equity and honor the spirit of International Women’s Day. We harness the power of communication to break down barriers and improve access for marginalized groups everywhere. In celebration of this vital holiday, learn about three ways Lionbridge’s localization and translation services help boost equity for people all over the world every day. 

Embracing Equity via Life Science Translation Services

One of the four key factors the UN uses to track gender parity is health and survival rates. We’re honoring the spirit of International Women’s Day every day of the year by promoting equal access to clinical trials and research. This work is vital to improve health and survival for people of all genders, races, classes, religions, etc. With life science translation services, clinical trials can recruit, retain, and better serve more diverse populations. The data from these trials will also be more widely trusted and respected by different groups. In some cases, translation helps clinical researchers reach populations affected more frequently by certain conditions. Here are three ways Lionbridge’s life sciences translations serve women and other marginalized groups: 

• Translated and localized patient communications, lay summaries, etc., facilitate higher and better participation in clinical research and improve health literacy. 
• Translated product labeling for approved medications and medical devices helps patients, caregivers, and healthcare providers make their best choices for treatment options. 
• Translated documents for post-market surveillance processes aid patients, doctors, and drug and device developers in collaborating to check that a treatment works optimally for patients. 

Life sciences translation has helped improve equity in health and survival rates for decades. Now, governments are also requiring it. In recent years, clinical research regulations (especially in the European Union) are calling for the creation of transparent, easily understood communications for patients and the public. (For example, plain language summary requirements.) These regulations improve equal access to important health information for many different groups. Lionbridge helps pharmaceutical companies and clinical trial sponsors meet these requirements and promote health equality. We translate, localize, and render materials in plain language, making them more accessible to a wider variety of people. 

Embracing Equity With Marketing Translation

Fortunately, many companies are feeling pressure to embrace equity every day, not just on International Women’s Day. Nonprofits and businesses are now expected to create everyday marketing materials that celebrate diversity and equality — and Lionbridge is helping them achieve this goal. This pressure is due to a few factors. Firstly, Millennials and Generation Z, the future of consumers, are some of the most diverse generations the world has ever seen. Additionally, recent social justice movements have made corporate responsibility more than a nice-to-have. It’s a best practice for businesses that want the respect of consumers and higher revenue. Marketing translation services and localization services are essential to helping businesses reach a more diverse customer base. These services also help companies review their marketing materials for intolerant language or ideas, especially across cultures. 

Beyond buyers and revenue, Lionbridge also helps companies create and execute a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive culture. We assist with translating and optimizing public-facing and internal communications for embracing equity. Employee handbooks, company-wide memos, website career pages, and employee newsletters can all be translated, localized, and edited to be free of intolerant language. These services help employers attract and retain the best talent. Today’s workers want to join companies that embrace equity fundamentally. They also speak many languages and live all over the world in many cultures. To build a team that helps them meet big business goals, companies need translation services for their external and internal communications. 

Language providers like Lionbridge can help with these goals by creating language style guides. These documents will help a company redefine its strategy to embrace equity, in old materials and new. (The guides also safeguard the brand voice, so it’s consistent and recognizable, an added benefit.)

Get in Touch  

At Lionbridge, we prioritize supporting women and gender equity on International Women’s Day – and every day of the year.  

Among our many leadership initiatives, we have two programs specifically dedicated to supporting women:

ReacHIRE: We’ve worked with this U.S. nonprofit for almost five years to hire and support diverse professionals. The program specifically helps us hire women reentering the workforce after time away. 

iWill: This organization is for Lionbridge women based in India. It offers mentoring, support, and workshops on topics like financial independence, work-life balance, etc.  

Women@Lionbridge: This initiative empowers women to help other women. It aims to engage and retain female talent at the company and provide women with continuous learning opportunities. The group holds a monthly meeting and helps facilitate mentorships.

Learn more about how Lionbridge celebrates and uplifts women all year in last year’s blog post. Interesting in joining us? Check our careers page.