Flourishing Amidst Gender Inequities: The Impact of Mothers on Nurturing Our Professional Advancement

Growing up in the early 90s, a prevailing characteristic I observed in my village was that nearly 90% of our mothers were stay-at-home moms. It seemed like the norm for women to stay home while fathers went out to work, either professionally or in informal jobs. I often wondered how our female teachers managed their schedules, as they spent most of their time at school. I assumed their work was voluntary and that they were not salaried like the male teachers. In a peculiar way, I viewed my female classmates as attending school simply to learn basic literacy skills so they could feel useful when they got married, which often happened shortly after completing primary education. It was a puzzling dynamic then, but to this day, women's empowerment remains an unfinished business of the 21st century. World Bank reports highlight that nearly 2.4 billion women globally do not have the same economic rights as men.

Reflecting on this year's International Women's Day and drawing inspiration from its theme, "Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress," I find myself pondering how we reached our current state. Among millennials, particularly those in their 30s and 40s, conversations often seem to revolve around mothers, almost to the point where one might think fathers never existed in their lives. However, fathers were indeed present. As I delve into history with a touch of nostalgia, I wonder how we managed to thrive despite the pervasive gender inequalities that could have stifled our aspirations, mirroring the resilience of our mothers' lives.

Although many mothers did not advance their education during that time, they played a crucial role in shaping our characters and resilience within the education system, particularly in an African context. Their support was evident through non-verbal gestures that compelled us to attend school diligently. They collaborated intensely with teachers and provided unwavering support with scholastic materials, instilling in us a sense of responsibility and care for our possessions, expected to last an entire term. While they rarely assisted with actual homework, they ensured its completion and tidiness, with consequences awaiting any errors upon inspection at home.

Mothers were vigilant about school attendance and punctuality, often taking on roles such as PTA class representatives, members of the BOM, or leading spiritual sessions during Friday morning gatherings. Being a disciplined child in an African home was non-negotiable, with these parenting responsibilities extending beyond individual households to communal parenting.?

Setting aside nostalgia, delving into the concept of Investing in Women to Accelerate Progress requires reflecting on our childhood experiences. During our formative years, gender equality seemed elusive as societal norms deeply entrenched gender roles, even within supposedly progressive educational institutions. While these institutions may have aimed to model gender empowerment, their impact was limited.

Consider a hypothetical scenario where affirmative actions and policies promoting women's empowerment, akin to the theme of investing in women to accelerate progress, had been implemented five decades ago. In such a scenario, many millennials, both male and female, would have had access to quality education and completed their studies. This would have mitigated the persistent gender imbalances we observe today, with far-reaching effects evident in increased workforce participation and economic growth.

In the words of Germany Kent, "You don’t know the background story of resilience, struggles, and strength of beautiful and outgoing women. All you see is what is showcased." In essence, to translate the theme "Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress" into actionable goals, drawing from my childhood reflections, the following steps are imperative:

• Invest in Women's Education: As Malala Yousafzai once said, "One child, one teacher, one book, one pen can change the world." Investing in women's education is crucial for breaking the cycle of gender inequality and empowering future generations to thrive professionally.
• Promote Equal Opportunities: Sheryl Sandberg emphasizes, "We need women at all levels, including the top, to change the dynamic, reshape the conversation, to make sure women's voices are heard and heeded, not overlooked and ignored." Promoting equal opportunities for women in leadership roles is essential for fostering inclusive work environments and driving progress.
• Support Working Mothers: In the words of Michelle Obama, "There is no limit to what we, as women, can accomplish." Supporting working mothers with policies such as paid parental leave, flexible work arrangements, and affordable childcare is essential for enabling women to balance their professional and family responsibilities effectively, thus nurturing their professional advancement.
• I am equally inspired by the Ripple Effect Transformative Household (THM) approach in implementation; it is rapidly changing the narrative for most women in smallholder farmer households.

Happy International Women’s Day! Today, let's celebrate our mothers as the first champions of women in our lives.