Breaking The Bias - See and Hear Us Roar - We are Humans, We are Women

We are all responsible for improving our world, may it be for others but also ourselves, like the previous generations of women and men did for us.

International Women’s Day (referred to as IWD) is celebrated annually on March 8 to commemorate the cultural, political, and socioeconomic achievements of women throughout the years, as well as to put a spotlight on the topics & issues at the forefront of today's world, to create a more equal and equitable world for present and future generations.

This year's International Women's Day topic brings us together to strive in making this world "free of bias, stereotypes and discrimination. A world that's diverse, equitable, and inclusive. A world where difference is valued and celebrated." (IDW website)

Collectively we must strive to #BreakTheBias.

When I refer to women, I refer to all generations of humans who consider themselves as women, including the LGBTQ+ community.

On this special day, I think about the women of the past who have stood strong in the face of adversity and who fought for their rights so their generations and future ones would be better off. I will be forever grateful to all of them, especially to the women in my family in Sri Lanka and France for everything they have gone through and overcome. I also think about all the men who have been helping women’s causes throughout time. Thank you for giving us the tools to break the status quo and being our partners in this journey.

On this special day, I think about all the women and younger generations who are currently doing all their best to overcome the situations they are in. Those who are standing up for their rights even though their surroundings do not welcome them to have voices. I always think about the little girls I used to play with in the villages, we were all kids, but they went on to be forced to be old men’s new brides while I went on to stay a kid with a much sunnier path ahead. This still exists today...It should not.

This year I strike the IWD’s pose for all the girls and women in the world who still have no access to education, who are still forced to Not think for themselves, who have heavy chains and boulders, and still cannot make their dreams and aspirations a reality.

Whether deliberate or unconscious, bias makes it difficult for anyone to move ahead. It unfortunately increases the number of challenges and limitations in one’s life-path.

Being aware these biases exist is an important step forward but, the most difficult step is to take action so they do not become limitations and block anyone from moving ahead in their lives.

For International Women’s Day 2022 and the future:

• I pledge to continuously be proud of being a woman
• I pledge to continuously shine bright with all my colours because everything that makes me should be celebrated and accepted
• I pledge to continuously celebrate and accept everyone’s colours
• I pledge to continuously be aware of the unconscious and conscious bias I hold, so I do not limit myself and others
• I pledge to continuously raise my voice when I witness bias being used against someone or against me
• I pledge to never let myself be silenced; I won’t go speechless
• I pledge to continuously help others in becoming more and more aware of their own conscious and unconscious biases As G.D. Anderson says “Feminism isn’t about making women strong. Women are already strong. It’s about changing the way the world perceives that strength.”
• I pledge to continuously learn, trust myself, and love myself, no matter what others say and hold against me
• I pledge to continuously help fellow humans reach their potential, the best I can, as to expand their sense of actual possibilities. We all can reach for the stars without tearing each other down
• I pledge to continuously thrive to be the best version of myself every day, as a human and as a woman

Let’s Collectively Pledge to Improve Everyone’s Lives By Breaking The Bias