International Women's Day, 8th March 2018 #Pressforprogress
“Women don’t need to find a voice....They have a voice, they need to be empowered to use it, and people need to be encouraged to listen” Megan Markle
Last year saw the beginning of the #Timesup and #Metoo movements. From the women in parliament talking about their experiences of sexual harassment...Hollywood actresses outing Harvey Weinstein....Olympic gymnasts outing Larry Nasser... women in general, "girls next door" (and men) finding the strength to speak out about experiences they had painfully kept to themselves of men abusing their positions of power and seriously, unashamedly taking advantage.
I’m so proud of those women and girls, and proud of the other women, girls (men and boys too) who are raising up their heads and hands...standing up and working towards using their voices. I am humbled and proud of their strength and the process they are going through to overcome those undeserved feelings of guilt and shame, to give it back to the people who put it on them and to let the world know that all this awful insiduous stuff that came to be the norm has to stop and will no longer be tolerated.
It is a shame that it took so long to get to this point though...for the world to acknowledge that women are not second rate citizens, that women do not have to be put up with being abused just so they could keep their jobs or not have their dreams shattered... I read an article that said it will take 217 years to close the gender parity gap...maybe it's an exaggeration...maybe it's not. To me what such a statement speaks to is the huge changes that have to be made in the world. It is amazing that women are rising up and using their voices. It is great that influential women are making a stand and speaking out. However it's not just women that need to be empowered and worked on but men also need to be challenged in their own biases and stereotypes of women. We need more men speaking out against gender inequality and abuse and actually taking some action.
Maybe schools should be openly talking about and teaching about these issues? What else needs to change for progress to me made? Women are still fighting their own individual battles...but in what ways in our own places of work or spheres of influence are we all, women AND men talking about and addressing these issues on organisational and societal levels?
Maybe schools should be openly talking about and teaching about these issues? What else needs to change for progress to me made? Women are still fighting their own individual battles...but in what ways in our own places of work or spheres of influence are we all, women AND men talking about and addressing these issues on organisational and societal levels?
Well...this years theme for International Women’s day is #Pressforprogress - it speaks to the continuation to push against gender inequality, fighting against gender parity to create a world where women and men can stand alongside each other equally and respect and appreciate what we all have to bring and contribute to society and globally across the world! I think I'll print off some of the press for progress cards (www.internationalwomensday.com) and hand to my son's headteacher as well as leave all over the office! What do you think?
On a fashion note...
I love what Megan Markle is bringing to the Royal family...being an advocate for women and girls issues...breaking royal traditions...stylish trouser outfits...
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