International Women’s Day was celebrated on
the 8th of March. Organizations around the world hosted programs showcasing
efforts towards achieving gender equality. Cities like New York and London
observed the day with marches along main avenues led by actors and activists. To
an observer from outer space, it would be concluded that although women do not
have equal rights on this planet, everyone seems to agree that they should and
is working diligently towards that goal. That, however, would be far from the
truth.
For the two weeks following the International
Women’s Day, the United Nations is hosting more than 6000 delegates from around
the world for its 59th session of the Commission of the Status of Women. These
are men and women from around the world, in different capacities, trying
desperately to work towards a planet shared equally. But when you ask their
opinion on a personal level, their frustration at the futility of their task is
evident.
The roadblocks to their efforts are varied--politics,
customs, traditions, mind-set, etc.. There were certain common threads that ran
through all the conversations. One important aspect is finances! Most, if not
all, blamed those in power for not letting the available funds filter through.
Another huge hurdle is the safety of those involved in the projects-- both the
workers and the targeted demographic are usually at great risk and could not be
protected in most cases. In short, there is very little that can be done within
the available resources.
One of the panels, which comprised of the Vice
President of Zambia and the Foreign Minister of Sweden, among other esteemed
guests, were voicing their frustrations at the slow pace of any progress. It
was when the panelist from Egypt implored the organizations present to do more
that it struck me--this was not a job for governments and organizations. This was
also not a situation where, if you threw enough money at it, it would go away.
This unfair distribution of assets and tragic inequality can only be fixed by
us, the common people and work needs to start at home.
We, as a culture, raise our girls to be wives.
That is it! Even if they are allowed a professional education, their future is
at the discretion of the husband. We raise our boys to expect subservient
wives, to be molded as they choose. We feel that if we raise strong, independent
women, they will make bad wives and if we raise boys who are secure enough in
their own skin to view their wives as equals, they will make weak husbands.
There are no organizations or NGO’s that can reach deep within the psyche of a
nation and rewire. This vicious cycle can only be broken at home.
There are a few enlightened voices that are being
raised and we are seeing more and more young men and women who are embracing
this new reality. They also realize that “together” is so much more productive
than “alone”. This “new world order” does not necessarily mean that men and
women both work outside the home. It goes much deeper than that. It is about respect and validation that goes
both ways. It is about giving women the right to choose whether they want to
work outside the home or within. Whether they want children now or would like
to space them out. In essence it allows a woman to be in control of decisions
that affect her and ultimately those around her.
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