On March 8, Let’s #BreakTheBias

The theme for IWD is #BreakingTheBias: Imagine a gender equal world. A world free of bias, stereotypes and discrimination. A world that's diverse, equitable, and inclusive. A world where difference is valued and celebrated. Together we can forge women's equality. Collectively we can all:

• #BreakTheBias
• Celebrate women's achievement
• Raise awareness against bias
• And take action for equality.

Did you know that women have been directly responsible for inventions that keep both us and our data safe: from Kevlar to wireless communication technology, to name a few. Let’s not forget about medicine, where Apgar scores, HIV-combative drugs, mobile X-rays, and the now-famous mRNA vaccines are directly attributable to the women who developed them. Here’s a fun link to more inventions: https://www.history.com/news/women-inventions

So, with all this brain power, why is it that there are so few women calling the shots, or heck, contributing in a visible way to globally impactful decisions? There are only 10 countries with a female Head of State, at last count, with women grossly underrepresented in all levels of decision-making the world over. How many potentially ground-breaking collaborations contained or involved women? Keeping women out of important discussions smacks of the “let the men do the work” attitude that has been so devoutly worshipped—and I’m not just talking about faraway countries, either. Even on this side of the pond, a woman in a position of power is seen as an oddity, a rare occurrence that no one quite knows how to deal with. It’s amazing to me that we can, on the one hand, produce a trailblazer of a leader like Chrystia Freeland, Canada’s Minister of Finance, and yet there are still women not ten miles away who don’t feel comfortable advocating for themselves.

Traditional gender roles have placed women in the home, behind the “man of the house”, and women are still feeling like they must prove their right to be front and centre. What does that say about our society? The fact that we must “prove” anything is both ludicrous and exhausting. Achieving true parity means doing away with the glass ceiling and levelling an otherwise lopsided playing field in and out of the house. The idea is for everyone to be seen through the same clear lens, with no regard for race, creed, age, or gender. I never want my daughter to feel intimidated or discouraged because she was born female. I want that to be a strength, and not a weakness. I feel like that shouldn’t be too much to ask.