International Women's Day

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“A woman with a voice is by definition a strong woman. But the search to find that voice can be remarkably difficult.”- Melinda Gates
A gender-balanced world is a better world.  The significance of March 8 is universal. It is that time that the international community pauses to celebrate the achievements of women in political, economic, cultural and social spheres.  Creating a gender-balanced world is more than a women’s issue, it makes business sense. The time has come for societies to ensure that there are gender-balanced boardrooms, gender-balanced government, as well as gender-balanced media coverage. The day is also significant for many other reasons. International Women’s Day (IWD) brings awareness to the issues of gender parity and gender biases which are steeped in patriarchal structures and should be of concern to all.  The widening pay gap between men and women is problematic and needs to be addressed urgently. This can only be addressed if there is a collective activism involving men in the race for gender balance in all spheres of life. Disturbingly, in many societies especially in the Muslim world women’s voices are muted. In many societies women are absent from the decision making process and the negotiation table. Women are still viewed as property in some societies. Girls are subjected to child marriages and women and girls are usually in high demand for human trafficking and the sex slave industry.  International Women’s Day is a time for celebration but it is also a time for reflection. This reflection should not only be of the past but should involve the current situation regarding the plight of women. We often tend to ignore the fact that women’s rights are also human rights. The history of International Women’s Day can be traced back to the women’s suffrage movement of the 19th century. Over the years women have achieved tremendous progress from their emancipation from traditional nurturing roles to their travel into space. Today, IWD belongs to all groups. Gender balance is necessary to lift the standard of living not only for women but humanity.  In observation of International Women’s Day let us be mindful of the theme "Think equal, build smart, innovate for change." As men we need to lend our collective voices in solidarity in promoting a gender-balance and fair world.
“To tell a woman everything she cannot do is to tell her what she can.”- Spanish Proverb

Wayne Campbell is an educator and social commentator with an interest in development policies as they affect culture and/or gender issues.

waykam@yahoo.com
@WayneCamo
#BalanceforBetter
#IWD2019


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