‘International Women’s Day is a time to reflect on progress made, to call for change and to celebrate acts of courage and determination by ordinary women who have played an extraordinary role in the history of their countries and communities’ (United Nations, 2017).
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That sounds just grand. It’s an achievement to aim for, but why aren’t we well and truly there yet?
Why are we still fighting the battles I believed we would win 50 years ago? I marched for equal pay in 1965. That was one of so many issues we were calling out to change.
There will be fine words written this week about the achievements of women throughout the world and the progress made in the last 100 years. We’ve seen great strides in some countries where education has become the driver towards improved life choices for young women.
Globally women’s education and health is worse than that of men. Violence against women is still prevalent in many countries while at the same time women in many countries begin to have real choices. Small steps.
There appear to be two main goals the United Nations is striving towards in the coming year:
(1) Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
(2) Ensure inclusiveness and quality education for all and promote lifelong learning.
What does IWD really mean for most women today in Australia?
Women in many spheres of work today are still fighting to obtain parity with men. This means not only in salaries but in positions of responsibility in the work force. That glass ceiling is as thick as it ever was when women try and breach it.
We need more women on boards, more women in parliament, more women running businesses. Women bring balance, an alternative view to problems which add common sense to decisions. Men by their very nature are confrontational and competitive, women more conciliatory and inclusive. We need both to provide balance and fairness in the workforce.
We have had highly-motivated feminists stretching back to the fight for the rights of women to vote, and in more recent times inspiring women such as the late Anne Deveson, Anne Summers and Eva Cox who set up the Women’s Electoral Lobby.
Younger women have chosen not to support WEL, believing they are well on the way to that quest for equality. They’re not, and should be under no illusion that they are anywhere near the finishing post today.
Where is the next generation to carry forward the banner for gender parity?
Come on young women... if the latest figures quoted by the World Economic Forum state that the gender gap won’t close entirely until 2186, then you need to strap your skates on and start pushing for parity NOW!
There is a new clarion call which states ‘Make a difference, think globally, act locally. Make every day International Day. Do your bit to ensure that the future for girls is bright, equal, safe and rewarding.’
Gloria Steinem, renowned feminist, journalist, social and political activist was quoted as saying ‘The story of women’s struggle for equality belongs to no single feminist nor to any one organisation, but to the collective efforts of all who care about human rights’.
IWD will continue to grow from strength to strength, but it needs our young women to grow it. You can begin today.
ANNIE YOUNG
