Kathy Hamilton An Equal world is an enabled world. As individuals, it’s only natural that our own thoughts and actions influence us the most. But this International Women’s Day the challenge is to remember that we’re all responsible for those thoughts and actions. We can choose to ignore inequality: be it racism, bias or stereotypical thinking. Or collectively, we can help create a more equal world by stepping up against it.
But Women and Men are Already Equal, Right?
One of the most consistent responses to the call for gender equality is that women are already equal. Women have the same rights as men, are entitled to the same things as men. What more do they want? But this is a very one-track vision of what equality means. And it just isn’t true. Complete gender equality may not be achieved for another century at least. Let that sink in.
We’ve got centuries of inequality ahead.
— World Economic Forum (@wef) December 17, 2019
📕 Read more in the Global Gender Gap Report 2020: https://t.co/YtGeseIGMY #gendergap20 pic.twitter.com/dbOeIf15Iu
Sure, if you’re white, educated, upwardly mobile with great job security the world might appear equal. But it’s important to remember that the balance is already skewed in your favour. The advantages available to one fraction of women don’t equate to the whole. Unless all of us are equal, none of us are.
As a woman who, more or less, fits the category above, I believe it’s my duty to use my privilege to continue the fight. What little of it I have, must be shared. Collective action and shared responsibility for driving a gender-equal world is key. Which is why I’m sharing this post with you on International Women’s Day.
The Economics of Equality
The core message of this year’s International Women’s Day is #EachforEqual. It seeks to draw attention to the economic issues attached to gender equality. But what does this mean? Basically that gender equality is essential for thriving economies and communities.
In particular, the campaign highlights boardrooms, government departments and media coverage. But by celebrating women’s achievements, raising awareness of bias and calling out inequality we can all help bring about change.
The Cost of Being a Woman
Simply put, it costs more to be a woman. For example, results to a recent poll revealed the average woman spends £10.24 ($13.25) a month on menstrual products. That adds up to nearly £5000 in an average woman’s reproductive lifetime (between the ages of 12 and 52).
Ten pounds might not seem a lot, but over half the respondents in the survey reported period poverty. 79% stated they have had to sacrifice other necessities to afford sanitary products every month. Additionally, According to World Health Organization (WHO) research, in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, 90% of female students in rural areas did not attend school for four or five days a month. In the UK, a reported 137,700 girls have missed school due to period poverty. Making them fall 145 education days behind their male counterparts. Period poverty isn’t just about ten pounds a month. It’s about restricted access to education and the means to better your circumstances.
That’s just one example of the added financial burden of being a woman. How can we expect girls to grow into women who serve on boards? Lead companies? Or forge innovation? If we accept that their education will suffer in comparison to their male counterparts because of ten pounds a month.
Fighting The Bias
Beyond the added financial burden of being a woman, there are many subtle ways that gender inequality pervades our lives. For example, in the latest report by the World Economic Forum (WEF), the UK slipped from 15th to 21st place in the global rankings for gender parity. According to the WEF, this is largely due to the lack of women in ministerial positions. But the economic gender gap is also high here too. Especially thanks to under-representation in fast-growing industries like AI, engineering and computing.
When we accept the status quo and ignore gender imbalances at home and at work we stall progress. It’s as simple as that. The first gender norm social index found that a staggering 90% of us are biased against women in at least one area. Whether that be politics, economics, education or violence and reproductive rights. It found that almost half of people perceive men to be superior leaders and business executives. Jarringly, almost one third also believe it’s acceptable for a man to beat his wife.
The upshot of this is that, if changes are not made, 67 of the 75 countries surveyed (home to 2.1 billion women) will not meet any of the equality targets set by 2030. The US included.
Beyond International Women’s Day
One day doesn’t change the world, but it can begin something great. Around the world, efforts are being made to close gender gaps in terms of economic opportunity. However, collectively we have to be the change we want to see. Gloria Steinem once wrote: “The story of women’s struggle for equality belongs to no single feminist nor to any one organisation, but to the collective efforts of all who care about human rights.” There are so many ways to get involved. Namely, you can donate time, money or your voice to the causes that affect women on every level.
Together we can make the world a better place. For everyone who lives here.
