Happy Women’s Day!!
As I was researching this blog, I kept reading different iterations of this phrase, “Women have come a long way, yet there’s still more to be achieved.” This evoked an inextricable amount of bile in my throat, much akin to eating a Family sized KFC bucket in five minutes. It’s an apologetic statement, trying to appease the conscience of men. The phrase is, “it’s a man’s world,” mirrors reality in a “this glass ceiling is not only unbreakable but it is also made of Vibranium” kind of way.
I feel saddened when I think of gender inequality, not because we can’t change this, but when its combined with poverty the effects are devastating for women. A gender pay gap is offensive to both a Wall Street female banker and a village headmistress, but poverty disproportionately affects the latter. I don’t know how we change the lives of a sufficient number of the poorest women in our society and this discourages me.
Is our narrative as women really changing?
If I look to the West, I am encouraged by Kamala Harris throwing her hat into the Democratic presidential race and by Theresa May, the British Prime Minister undertaking the truly thankless task of executing Brexit. I feel overwhelming pride when Priyanka Chopra is celebrated for successfully transitioning from Bollywood to Hollwood. In South Asia, I don’t doubt that history will remember Kangana Ranaut’s fight as a righteous one, as she stands up for elitist nepotism that not only underpins Bollywood but permeates every society (look no further then the current White House occupants).
Closer to home, I am blessed to be surrounded by women of formidable courage. My mother overcame substantial odds in her life to still be kind and a pillar of strength for my entire family. My best friend overcame Stage 3 cancer and after a year she has a future with her daughters. My sister recently finished her MBA after years of literally badgering her to death to apply to business school.
I aspire to achieve Priyanka Chopra’s success but it is my mother, best friend and sisters that are the true heroines of my life. They constantly remind me that the hard decisions that I make because I am a woman, are not in vain but will make the lives of future generations of girls that little bit easier.
I believe my narrative is changing to hope, hope that sufficient number of our daughters are encouraged and shown different routes to self-fulfilment. No girl or woman should dream of just having a home with a white picketed fence. This exhausting narrative is at its core, soul-destroying – whatever your age. Women should dream of achieving their own potential – they can make ungodly advances in male dominated fields such as science, technology or law.
I want women and girls everywhere to hear that as they work on achieving their dreams, they will frequently feel like throwing in the towel and that at times, their barriers will feel insurmountable. Loneliness is the price of change but know that everywhere around you is a woman or girl working harder to make their lives better. When a domestic helper is able to send her daughters to school or when you become CEO of a Fortune 500 company, both are victories for women.
Your victory is my victory and not just on Women’s Day, but everyday.