My motto is: A woman with a vision is a girl who had a dream. Focus on the vision, give it a voice, and change the world.
However, for this to be a feasible reality for many fortunate ones nowadays, many years had to pass by, and many women had to pave the way.
8th March 2024, another day, and now even a week, devoted to raise awareness of the unbalanced reality the majority of women still live in. The concept has been going on for a long time but unfortunately, we are still trying to fill the gap.
When did all start?
The beginnings of International Women’s Day are subject to debate. Some argue that it originated in 1909, when socialist women and textile workers in New York marched, demanding shorter hours, higher pay, and the right to vote. Others attribute its origin to Clara Zetkin,a German, anti-fascist, socialist and women’s rights activist, who proposed the idea during a conference for working women in Copenhagen in 1910.
The reality is that International Women’s Day has been celebrated across the world on different days and times since the early 1900’s. However, it was 1975 when The United Nations General Assembly declares March 8th. as the day dedicated to women’s rights and named it ‘International Women’s Day.’
Where are we now?
Over time, a week was needed to accommodate the multitude of events dedicated to celebrating women, their role in society and their achievements. By now, many women and girls have challenged stereotypes, shattered barriers, and propelled progress towards a more just and equitable world. Additionally, hundreds of millions of girls have access to education worldwide, while pioneering women leaders have broken through glass ceilings across the globe.
However, this week is also a time to revindicate the violation of women’s rights and the goals that remain unattained. In many parts of the world, and because of societies still shaped by male dominance, countless women and girls confront all type of discrimination, marginalization, and injustice. Women always suffer the most whenever there is global crisis, conflict, poverty, hunger, or climate disasters. Besides, the ongoing scourge of gender-based violence and feminicide cannot be accepted any longer.
Contrary to what we thought to be a solid achievement, in the West, we are seeing the rise of far-right governments with their policies against the advance of women. Additionally, there is a backlash, even more aggressive among the younger generations, against women’s rights, both in developing and, more strikingly, developed countries, questioning achievements which took so very long to conquer.
“Invest in women: Accelerate progress”
This year the UN theme is “Invest in Women: accelerate progress”. But what is meant by that? Women have shown to thrive in the world of work, nevertheless, another milestone is to be achieved yet, the real equality, not only on paper, of opportunities, power positions, and salary.
It is undeniable that the world’s progress can be achieved better and quicker if women are involved and in leading posts in all areas of society. Now, for this to happen, we need both public and private investment to foster an environment of equality in the private and public arena.
Undoubtedly, a lot of finance and resources should be invested in the developing countries, nonetheless, we cannot forget investing in women in the developed countries either. Not only is it crucial to boost the representation of women in leadership roles and boardrooms, but it is also paramount to invest in women’s start-ups and entrepreneurship. According to the World Economic Forum, in 2024 the finance gap for women’s entrepreneurs is 1.7 trillion.
The presence of women in all areas of financial and social development and in positions of authority can catalyze investments in policies and initiatives that address the unique realities and needs of women and girls.
We cannot stop raising awareness of these facts