March 8 is celebrated as International Women’s Day globally. It celebrates the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women while highlighting the problems they face in day-to-day life as well as in the professional environment. The day also marks as a call to action for accelerating gender parity.
International Women’s Day came into existence in 1917 when Soviet Russia granted suffrage to the nation’s women on March 8 of that year. Subsequent to this, this day became a national holiday and came to be associated with the themes concerning women’s equality and development. Especially communist countries and social movements are celebrating this day with great fervour. Worldwide, events are organized on this day to create an awareness regarding the needs of the global women community and press for those changes that will bring about some betterment in their lives.
This year, International Women’s Day is being specially marked to highlight the challenges brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic.
‘Women in leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world’ is the theme for this year’s Women’s Day. It highlights how women can be equal partners in decision-making processes, especially those regarding policymaking. This year, the need of the hour is to bring to light the tremendous efforts by women and girls around the world in shaping a more equal future and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and highlight the gaps that remain.
It is also aligned with the priority theme of the 65th session of the Commission on the Status of Women, “Women in public life, equal participation in decision making” and the flagship Generation Equality campaign, which calls for women’s right to decision-making in all areas of life, equal pay, equal sharing of unpaid care and domestic work, end all forms of violence against women and girls, and health-care services that respond to their needs.
Women are walking step by step with the men and are breaking stereotypes regarding their capabilities. There are many such in the world that have inspired the world in more ways than one. The question has never been whether women can lead as capably as men. Women have always led, and women will always lead, especially when the times are hard, and their communities are in need.
The question that we need to ask is, why is women’s leadership invisible? Why is their potential and their power stifled?
In the midst of a global pandemic, we find women on the front lines everywhere, as heads of government, legislators, healthcare workers, community leaders, and more. Although women’s organizations and community groups shoulder much of the responsibility of preventing the spread of the virus and serving those in greatest need, they are perennially left out of decision-making processes.
Today, women are Heads of State and Government in only 21 countries, despite the strong case that their leadership makes for more inclusive decision-making and more representative governance, even during this pandemic. Men are still 75 per cent of parliamentarians and hold 73 per cent of managerial positions. Most negotiators in formal peace processes are also men.
Women remain woefully underrepresented in the highest political positions. As of 2020, women only hold around 25 percent of seats in national parliaments and account for less than 7 percent of the world’s leaders.
What’s the easiest, most direct way you can make a difference?
Vote! And consider voting for women!
Stay informed on upcoming elections and spread the word about strong women candidates. Register to vote if you haven’t yet, and check in with friends and family members to make sure they’re registered, too. Then, hit the polls. It’s the least you can do, given how hard women fought for suffrage.
You can also make an impact by donating your time or money. Help get the word out with minimal effort by making calls or sending texts in support of your preferred candidate.
Besides, encourage girls to speak out and assert themselves. Counter narratives and language that discourage them to do so: say they are “bold,” not “bossy.” Show them their thoughts matter by asking their opinions and listening when they speak. And, if you are a parent or teacher, invest in toys, books and movies that are gender-neutral. Show girls the possibilities of their potential and allow them to play as they wish. Let them know that there is no wrong or right way to be a girl.
Women face intersecting and multiple forms of discriminatory practices at the workplace that keep them from advancing in their careers and claiming leadership positions, such as sexual harassment, the gender wage gap and lack of family-friendly policies.
Four ways you can shift policy and culture so that more women can claim leadership positions in the world of work:
•Demand equal pay for work of equal value.
•Demand zero-tolerance policies for workplace sexual harassment and violence.
•Share domestic and care-work at home equally.
•Demand equal representation of women in boardrooms.
Always remember, change isn’t just about big headline moments, legal victories and international agreements: the way we talk, think, and act every day can create a ripple effect that benefits everyone.
Let’s make 2021 count for women and girls everywhere.
Happy International Women’s Day!