Why do we Need Women’s Day!!

As the International Women’s Day approaches, preparations for the celebrations begin, so do the nay-sayers. People often question ‘Why do we need Women’s Day?’, ‘Isn’t every day a woman’s day?’, ‘Women are not marginalized anymore, why celebrate them?’, ‘If you celebrate women’s day, we want men’s day too.’; so on and so forth. While, from a certain point of view all of the above are valid sentiments, however just take a moment and see this from the eyes of the woman who does not have a voice; that woman who gets penalized for having an opinion; who gets reprimanded for wearing lipstick; who gets beaten to a pulp to want an education.

We are all privileged. If you are reading this article on Linkedin (or my website), on a smartphone (or a laptop), sitting on an executive chair, in your AC office (or your AC car); you are privileged. If you are a male, even more so. The intent of reminding you of your privilege is not to make you feel guilty, it is merely to point out the different perspective you may have from that woman who walks 10 miles to fill a pitcher of water to feed her 4 children. Having said that, how much credit or benefit of intelligence do we give the urban women? Barely any. Our opinions are fed by judgement and conditioning. At this point we have to stand up and challenge these biases and conditioning, rise above the ‘raising’.

Although we have more working women in recent times, unfortunately it comes to less than half (47.7%) of all women participating in the labor force. There are fewer that are truly financially independent. Despite being an earning member, more often than not, it is the men in the family that control how and what a woman should spend. Most women (working or not) lack confidence. Years of repression, and centuries of patriarchy have led women to doubt their very capability for independence (or intelligence). There are battles that women fight, extrinsic and intrinsic, imperceptible to many. Constant attempts at empowering has favourably seen a sea change in the overall outlook of women in the workforce, globally with 39.0% of women comprising the workforce. To be successful one needs to draw inspiration, sadly women lack women role models around them. Very few women have been able to successfully break the glass ceiling and reach the highest levels of corporate success (or personal conquests). Although it is heartening to see so many women aiming for and achieving success in entrepreneurial ventures. Those too are few and far in-between. I see and acknowledge the women leaders in the making, they need a boost in their confidence too.

We need women to begin believing in themselves. To believe that they can be more than being home-makers and mothers. And even as home-makers they can pride themselves with the contribution they make in shaping the next generation or taking care of the household. Not to feel belittled just because of their gender. We need voices that can speak for them, till they find their own and fight their own battles. We need women to empower each other, and even men to empower women.

If you are reading this, then you are privileged, and you can be a voice; so join the movement. Celebrate Women’s Day, because even if not in your immediate circle, most certainly women around the world need to be celebrated for who they are, to believe in themselves and to feel empowered. Women need to believe that they are equals, we are equals, we matter.

Statistics Source: The World Bank, “Labor Force Participation Rate, Female (% of Female Population Ages 15+) (Modeled ILO Estimate), World,” The World Bank Databank (2019) and The World Bank, “Labor Force, Female (% of Total Labor Force), World,” The World Bank Databank (2019)

Disclaimer: Views are personal and do not necessarily reflect the views of the organisation I work for.