“Walk in her Shoes 2025 Racewalk Event”: A Day to Celebrate Women

"Women are always saying, 'We can do anything that men can do.' But men should be saying, 'We can do anything that women can do.'"

- Gloria Steinem

As we celebrate International Women’s Day on the 8th of March, let us remind ourselves of just how important women are, not just to us but to the rest of the world. Women are an integral part of the society and they make up half of the world’s population but still, why do we as a society, still struggle when it comes to appreciating women for all that they do?

‘You run like a girl’ and ‘you’re so sissy’ are just a few of the phrases we often hear, but many don’t realize these words can perpetuate harmful stereotypes. What’s wrong with running like a girl? What’s wrong with being girly or ‘sissy’? These labels have unintentionally shaped our thinking, but it’s important to recognise the strength, resilience, and power behind them. Women have always been an essential force in shaping the world, and this International Women’s Day, the students of Sunway College Ipoh’s Foundation in Arts Programme are stepping up to show the world just how women lead and get things done.

As part of their Humanity Project assignment, the FIA students have decided to organise a racewalk event to honour women with each and every step they take. Based on the popular proverb, “to walk in one’s shoes”, participants were required to form teams of four with at least one male member in each group to run in a relay race. The catch is that they have to wear either pink or purple and pass handbags to their teammates instead of a baton. The event kicked off with a quick warm-up session, set to the tune of popular girlboss songs from Fifth Harmony, (G)I-DLE, Aespa and Sia. The race was officially flagged off by the Principal of Sunway College Ipoh, Pn. Wan Nor Haliza. The racers were also treated to delicious lychee juice and sweet strawberry cakes after the race, all wrapped in cute pink packaging.

Apart from taking a stand for women, this event has also served to facilitate community building by encouraging the students and staff of Sunway College Ipoh to reflect on the importance of women and their roles they play in a society. By strutting their stuff and carrying dainty handbags, the “Walk in Her Shoes 2025” event serves to break gender norms and stereotypes that have long hindered society from achieving gender equality, even if it’s only one step at a time.

As part of the Sunway Education Group, Sunway College Ipoh is committed to nurturing bright, young minds and critical thinkers of the future. By encouraging crucial conversations about gender equality and providing a platform for transformative activities, Sunway College Ipoh seeks to contribute to making this world a more equitable place with the power of quality education.