Thoughts on International Women's Day

Statistics show that never before women have faced such a strong misogyny and such extreme violence against them as nowadays. And this is not about the numbers; this is about a very shocking reality.

There are different types of violence: sexual, physical, mental. Each one of these and all together can be found and be applied almost everywhere; Home, office, society…

We all discuss about personal and professional values… But in the end, everything is judged by the results of our actions, isn’t it? How these values are applied in practice?

How do we react when we know that within our friends & family circle there is someone abused …?

What is our behavior when within our professional environment we see raw bullying, threats, and injustice? How ‘brave’ is the system to face and not turn a blind eye?

What is our position as individuals when women are not having the right to education, to work, to socialize, are raped and forced to pre-arranged marriages at the age of 10…?

Throughout my professional life, I have heard stories about cases where women in office environment were criticized in their performance evaluation because they were not laughing enough; other cases where covering unacceptable behaviors, male executives decided to twist facts against women employees threatening them to lose their job because they didn't want to deal with the real problem; case where male stakeholder not being able to accept that a younger AND a woman was right with her professional arguments, was checking her personal social accounts making sexist comments to bring her in this way in an uncomfortable/weak position; and so many other stories…

Therefore, the more I think about it, in this International Women’s Day, I would like to recognize MEN. Real MEN.

Men that are not hidden behind their physical or business power as their only way to convince a woman to do as they think and want.

Men that are supporting women, not because of #MeToo or #Time’s Up movements, but because, if they are right, this is the proper thing to do.

Men that are not afraid to get out of their comfort zone to support the bullied and stop the bully, at home, office, street, everywhere; and be the role model for others.

Men that are not feeling 'threatened' by the presence of a woman that can be better than them.

Men that in their families raise respectful sons to become respectful men. And the same with their daughters.

Men that in the offices exercise their personal and professional influence to create respectful environments.

Besides, this is about people that should respect each other, no matter the differences they may have.

In the end of the day, we should not celebrate Women’s Day..

Having equal rights should be taken for granted, it should not be a privilege…