Three years ago, to this literal date, I started my blog. For me, International Women’s Day’s symbolism reinforced my life’s mission to reduce existing gender disparities.
However, with each year, I look forward to this day, with trepidation and increasingly resentment, which requires some explanation.
But before that, what is International Women’s Day?
“International Women’s Day (March 8) is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating women’s equality.”
Why am I resentful?
The commercialisation of IWD vis-a-vis everyone under this sun “celebrating” this day strongly suggests that we are “accelerating women’s equality” and there are multiple reasons for a celebration.
My view is there is nothing to celebrate: gender disparity is real and increasing at an alarming pace, and COVID has compounded the effects of inequality.
The now unfortunately titled Gates Foundation funded a study covering 193 countries and concluded that:
- women were more likely to be unemployed than men owing to the pandemic (26% of women vs. 20% of men)
- A higher percentage of women left the workforce to become cares for others
- More girls dropped out of school than boys for reasons unrelated to the pandemic
- Women experienced more gender violence than men
Essentially, being a woman now is sh*t compared to (say) 4 years ago.
Look around you…
I went to Business School, and this year I am celebrating my ten-year reunion; as part of re-acquainting ourselves with each other, we are all providing personal and professional updates.
Far too many men are C-level executives successful entrepreneurs, and far too many women are none of these.
Only 15% of my class are women anyway, so the better progression of men is unsurprising, but I am still staggered by the obvious advantages seniority gives men vs. women.
I was discussing this with a friend, who said the more straightforward long-term solution would be to marry one of your classmates: and my heart sank when she said that.
Closing
IWD is long overdue for a makeover. This day should inter alia focus on how we can and should reduce gender disparity.
What can we as individuals do to help women?
What policy changes should we be petitioning our government to make?
Over the past year, I have chosen to work with women as much as possible. My experience has been excruciatingly painful at times and is the antithesis of plain sailing. Women vendors tend to be smaller, lack scale and expertise, and truthfully, cost my business more than dealing with men.
But the one thing I won’t do is not support these women. I’ll make a buck less, but I’ll do it by raising these others as well.
Lipservice to breakthebias
The absurdity of IWD’s is further reinforced by these ridiculous breakthebias cards. As if the responsibility of breaking detrimental and prejudicial barriers is the task of women alone.
And before I forget, Happy Women’s Day.
Source