March is observed as the Women’s History Month and March 8th is celebrated as the International Women’s Day. International Women’s Day celebrate the social, financial and political achievements of women all over the world. The theme of this year’s Women’s Day is #PressforProgress. And this year Women’s day becomes more relevant in the wake of increased global activism for gender equality and back drop of movements like #metoo.
Despite the fact that women represent almost half of the world population, and their contribution to the society and economy being no less, women still struggle due to inequality at home and at workplaces. They face discrimination in pay, hiring and/ or promotions and there is gender wage gap at all the levels. World Economic Forum reports in its Global Gender Gap Index for 2017 that the gender gaps in the economic and health spheres will not close for 217 years. And then there are gender based disparities where certain jobs are still considered men specific.
Struggles for women vary in different scenarios from work place discrimination to striving for basic human rights. Day to day problems like domestic violence and sexual harassment are still a norm. Financial independence is a farther dream for many women in the society. Even today many cultures promote the age-old traditions and customs that affect the women’s right to inherit or secure land and property.
And yet women survive, they constantly strive to fight for equality, freedom, opportunity and for dignity. Every once in a while, there comes a silver line in the form of girls like Malala Yousafzai who break the mold and spread their wings like a beautiful butterfly and show the world that they are not equal-they are better than anyone.
Women need a safe place to work in, to thrive in and more importantly they need to be given the equal opportunities and education to make them financially and socially independent. They need to be appreciated for the contributions they make in all walks of life. They live free from violence, poverty and inequality as the progress of a community depends on how their women have progressed.
