#EachforEqual - from my lens

Although every day should be Women’s day, this day reminds me to collectively bring my thoughts through my writings. Today is International Women’s Day (IWD) 2020. The campaign theme for this year’s IWD is #EachforEqual. Individually, we’re all responsible for our thoughts and actions – all day, every day, every moment. We can actively choose to challenge stereotypes, broaden perceptions, fight bias, improve situations and celebrate women’s achievements. Collectively, each one of us can help create a gender-equal world.

How do I reflect #EachforEqual in my life?

 1. Having enough women at the table: Be it the Board members, executive roles in the industry or government officials, we need gender diversity and balance to make this world a better place. Why make it so much harder for women to reach those roles? My mother always told me, “Be independent !. You may be the first, but make sure you are never the last.” I’ve never forgotten that since then.

2. Being viewed as a person of caliber first and women next: I have seen this and experienced this over and over again when people view or judge women as less competent or capable. Why? As a result, women continue to prove, work much harder and still struggle to reach where they ought to be. This entire thought process of judging the capability of individuals has to be #EachforEqual. Despite claiming balance around the workforce, women tend to be questioned when they ask for a promotion at all levels.

3. Equality in Pay: For several decades’ women have been earning higher education even more than men. Yet women across the globe are being paid less than men for the same job. While women often struggle with a fear of asking for higher pay, there are times where, negotiating pay is often viewed as being greedy or desperate, which leads to hesitation when it comes to asking for their worth in the workplace. “ Never forget what you are worth”.

4. Let women decide their future: It is an interesting dynamic that there are several societies across the world where the future of a woman gets decided the day she is born. Her aspirations, how she needs to look, how she needs to behave, or act is decided by everyone other than herself. People who make these conclusions are both women and men. It is important to bring that change where we need to stop making decisions for our next generation just because the previous generation had to live through this. Women are thriving opening businesses, being successful entrepreneurs. There has never been a more exciting time where they can create their path and full fill their passion. We need to create those opportunities for women in areas that have not been the norm. It is important to create the message around that every workplace can be represented by women if people think with an open mind.

5. Navigating career, Motherhood and Aging Parents: As a working mother of two children, I believe that the big challenge facing working women is navigating career opportunities while maximizing their motherhood. Data has shown that working moms do have the luxury of “leaning in” to either their careers or motherhood but rarely both at once. As a result, several of them quit the workforce and never return. Women are also falling out of the workforce to be primary caregivers to aging parents. When they decide to come back to the workforce, many times it becomes impossible. It is extremely important to promote around creating an enablement platform for mothers to re-enter the workforce where they left off.

6. Awareness around health education: Health, sex, wellness education, domestic violence issues are at the forefront for many digital marketplaces across the world. It is extremely important to create a safe space where women feel comfortable to talk about their wellness, and be able to be informed.

On the global front, I feel the most important issue for the entire international community is to wake up and empower the voices of women across employment, social causes, education, gender-based violence and much more. Like human society, we need to collectively come to make this world a better place for our future. A gender-equal world will be much healthier, wealthier and more harmonious and it is in our hands.

Let us Live, Learn, Lead Challenge, Empower and Lift each other #Eachfor Equal. What this mean to you?