International Women Day - Gender Equality Today for a Sustainable Tomorrow

Studies have shown that women are their worst enemies, yet we need to reverse this stereotype using platforms of social celebrations as reminders to wage against the secret discourteousness and maliciousness that plague women folk. The global international women day deals categorically with the social issues facing women. More specifically, the global celebration of women celebrates the achievement of women, promotes women’s rights, equality, fairness with a call to communities, nations and the world to aim for an inclusive and a free environment from discrimination and bias, besides leveraging space(s) for women to move forward.

Further, this years’ (2022) global women event titled, “Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow”, had as its campaign slogan: #BreakThe Bias hashtag. Remarkably, there are financial, social, physical, intellectual, occupational, and mental biases that must be broken. There are biases that must be broken deliberately and intentionally in the home, extended family system, communities, churches, academy, and workplaces. With such break, the society becomes more inclusive leaving no one behind. For each event, it is a commitment to women individually and as a group. It is a call to action against systemic and structural challenges that continue to militate against women. It may be apt to say that the patriarchal system enshrined in African families, communities, such as religious institutions and the kindred systems have continued to disprivilege women despite their social status and positions. But how true is the statement that women are their worst enemies.

The biases against women by fellow women are real and anecdotes have shown that women are wary of their gender preferring to relate with men despite the harsh realities of patriarchy. The fact is that underlying the softness of the female, there is an aggressive streak that if it is not channelled to the pursuit of purpose, will mushroom and metamorphous into pettiness, resentment and bitterness. Unfortunately these hostilities are channelled against other women, especially when they seem to be thrusting themselves against the status-quo.

In times like this, when global issues challenge families, with women rising beyond and above their expected norms, roles, and responsibilities to break stereotypes, carve out victories, and conquer cultural biases and hurdles in a male privileged world. Women must learn to intentionally choose to help and support fellow women as they climb the social and spiritual ladders. We must prioritize, nurture, and build relationships that will empower us and other women. As typified by Naomi and Ruth of the Bible, the intrigue and significance of this intergenerational relationship purposefully built across social status, such as age, ethnicism and religious realities (one was a Moabite, and the other was a Jew) was a close connection that enabled Naomi’s experience(s) to be shared with Ruth in her formative life as a migrant. Naomi helped and aided Ruth to move into her destiny. She guided her in the way that she was to go, bringing out unique talents hidden in her mentee, while Ruth, with so much belief in Naomi turned out beautifully glorious. And it turned out well for Naomi also because she was recognized in her-story; the story that bears Ruth’s name. These two women so impacted themselves that they both rose above conspicuous odds against them and made their own contribution to the human narrative. True and strong sisterhood relationship is achievable when there is transparency, and empathy, when twisted relational issues, such as incivility and frenemy are consciously and deliberately shunned. Taking these decisions would be most valuable because narratives have shown that women who support women are successful. Of course building a strong support system for women spearheaded by women that will even gain the sympathy of others is a viable way to mobilize for the women causes. This will become effective when women first of all support one another by challenging gender biases and stereotypes carved out by patriarchy, particularly in kindred communities and supporting women-led initiatives, particularly in the political arena. The media is a strategic tool that can be used by women and men allies to debate on traditional roles and norms that profess women as non actors in the communities and society. These supportive tools will reshape position, as women voices and capacities are amplified. These tools can also help to give women the required platform in leadership, especially in politics. Additionally, narratives have shown there are more women voters. What’s more, women can unanimously decide to vote in their gender that proved to be capable in developmental work efforts.

When women are allied and backed by fellow women, the empowering and self-determining potential are greater and the prospect to succeed is higher. Women can achieve this, because it is imbedded in our constitution to conceive and catalyze. Unlocking human potential is one of the niches of women, and this can translate in unlocking the wealth of institution and Nations. When women are represented in structures and systems of power, their capacities are well nurtured particularly, when such nurturing are from the same gender. Their comfort zone is a milieu to flourish creating the health and well-being of partakers who drink from their milk of humanity, particularly when their biases have been shelved.
I have been nurtured in such comfort zone by women who helped me along the pathways of my life having learnt about the power of a woman. With many women venturing out in male dominated areas, we need a collective joint voice, an intentional synergy and a resolve to watch and guard each other’s back. We build values, such as humility, integrity, and trust, we nurture a frame work that is inclusive, recognizing the infinitesimal input of every woman because so many women are also experiencing biases, backlash, and personal hurdles.

A people with shared history can much more empathize with each other. Women! We are bonded by our shared experiences, you sit where I sat and I sit where you sat somewhere in our journey. We are stronger together pushing against obstacles and building stronger stairs for our emergence. We must by design connect to God, who built us with so much grace and wealth to make the world a home and a haven and where the need be, can refashion disoriented, disillusioned and broken pieces into wholeness.

As women helping women becomes majority, we can channel our strength to make the “table’ better, uniting further to strengthen our cause. Under God, we can only venture out confidently, connecting with a large crowd of women witnesses’ clapping and cheering us on as we hope to change the game and narrative.

To women out there: strong and beautiful.
To women helpers of the path of life: helping one another to achieve eternal purpose.
May you meet them. May you experience women as destiny helpers.
And to courageous women, who defy all odds against them, collaborating rather than competing.
May you be a women ally channelling power to change the equation against women.
May you bear and raise biological, social and spiritual daughters called to help other women.
Finally, may we sustain the cause.