I hear many ladies saying there’s no need for the existence of Woman’s Day. As we are equal everyday in every aspect, and since women are nowadays free, independent and stronger Human Beings than ever. We are given the same job opportunities, we are treated as per our performance review and recognized for our diplomatic skills.
My questions are: are we really given the same job opportunities? Are we really treated as per our performance review? Are our diplomatic skills a real asset or plain common sense?
From my experience I can’t say I ever experienced obvious discrimination for being female. But I did get the feeling of not getting a promotion merely because I wasn’t a man. And I can say that it had nothing to do with company policy. I just had been unfortunate on the person responsible for making the decision. I was unfortunate on his perspective regarding skill sets. Or specifically, on my skill set.
I still progressed, just in a different direction, with other people, with different takes on how to manage people.
So nowadays, we are so used to this day-to-day equality that we seem to have forgotten that it hasn’t always been like this. There was a time in which Women weren’t allowed to vote. In which Women belonged in the kitchen, in the house looking after the children. They were not recognized as socially equal. And now here we are… at least we don’t feel inequality or discrimination in an obvious way. At most, we debate whether women are paid the same or get the same job opportunities… all of this if we are referring to the ‘civilized world’.
Let’s pretend for a minute we had been born in some lost corner of the world, where society didn’t evolve that much.
Let’s pretend for a minute we live in a country where women are stoned to death as a way of punishment? Where female mutilation is acceptable? Where girls can’t go to school simply because they are… girls? Where women can’t make a decision of going to the gym, to the doctor, to study, to travel? Where women aren’t allowed to drive? Where women are neither allowed to be in the same space as men nor shake their hands? Where the value of a daughter is a burden instead of a promising new Human Being in this world? Where a woman who became a widow is raped as part of the local ritual? Where children and teenagers are sold as mere objects? Where children and teenagers are to be married to old men?
And yes, this all exists in the 21st century around the world, in lost forgotten pieces of land which go by the name of Countries.
Each country has their own culture and let’s not mistake cultural traditions and habits with fundamental Human Rights. The world is changing. Many countries are adjusting their view on Women’s Rights, allowing their society to try and catch up with first world practices. But in spite of it… many countries are choosing not to move on and keep whatever heritage they have.
So, before we so quickly judge and reiterate ‘we don’t need a woman’s day’ because we are as free, strong and independent as men… why don’t we think again?
What perspective would we have, had we been born in a ‘third world’ country?
Love and Everyday Affairs 