‘Connecting Girls, Inspiring Futures’, the theme of Int’l Women’s Day 2012 on March 8:

Woman - the fountain of life

By Indunil THENUWARA

Lankan women

“Women hold up half the sky”, said Mao Tse-tung. This rings true in most places on Earth, especially in countries such as Sri Lanka where women contribute much more than ‘half’ to the national economy (think foreign remittances and garment and tea exports).

However, is their immense contribution to the national economies of the world, to social and cultural development, to science, technology and art, to life itself, recognised and appreciated? Hardly!

Women continue to be harassed, discriminated against and abused all over the world and despite advances made in the right direction, there is no place on Earth where men and women truly enjoy equal rights, privileges and opportunities.

Women have gone far and achieved much: in most countries including Sri Lanka, girls outperform boys in examinations at school and university; more women join the workforce annually and hold top positions especially in the public sector. However, the percentage of women in decision-making positions in governments as well as top corporate bodies is woefully inadequate (Half of the FTSE 250 companies have no women on their boards).

Despite more women working, their hourly earnings are 80 percent of those of men. Seventy percent of the global population living in poverty is said to comprise women. Rape within marriage as well as female foeticide still exists in some societies despite the practices being technically illegal. Dowry killing still remains a sore spot in India where it is reported, on average a wife is killed every hour. A gaping chasm remains between legal equality and individuals’ behaviour and attitudes.

A poster for a Women’s Day campaign

Sri Lankan women are involved in ‘non-traditional’ tasks such as demining too

Pushing further towards attitudinal change, recognising, appreciating and celebrating the vast strides made by women as well as their contribution to every sector in life and initiating further steps to dismantle existing barriers against the full advancement and emancipation of women are the objectives of International Women’s Day (IWD) which is celebrated on March 8 every year.

The theme

Women demanding voting rights

The theme for this year, as designated by the United Nations, is ‘Connecting Girls, Inspiring Futures’ and focuses on the role of girls and encouraging their involvement in the growth of society. It’s a call for action, to encourage organisations and groups to think carefully about key messages for the women of tomorrow and to share these messages in a positive way to impact the minds and aspirations of girls.

The focus of all events to be organised around the world in connection with the day, from political rallies, business conferences, government activities and networking events to exhibitions, theatre performances and fashion parades, would be on expanding awareness about the issues girls around the world face and on the improvement of the economic, social and political lives of women of the future by enhancing the choices for the girls of today.

By connecting girls, the future leaders of the world, to the school, to the Internet and to each other, it is assumed that they will change their lives, their families as well as their communities for the better.

Current estimates

According to current estimates, of the 101 million illiterate youth in the world, more than half are girls. Seventy million children around the world are not attending school, of which nearly 60 percent are girls. When families face hard times, girls are the first to be removed from school, denied access to health and nutrition and thrust with the responsibility of looking after their younger siblings.

However, the world has proved time and again that educating girls leads to stronger and healthier families, communities, countries and societies, and lifts not just individuals, but entire communities out of poverty.

It has been proven that investing in girls and women is not just the right thing, but the smart thing to do.

Higher investments in girls’ education, primary and secondary, has brought about a marked drop in early pregnancy, leading to a reduction in maternal mortality. As the victims of most maternal deaths in developing countries are girls between the ages of 15 and 19 years, education would have a direct bearing on reducing the number of such deaths. Education has also considerably reduced incidences of early marriage, especially early forced marriage, and HIV infection in girls and women.

All governments, especially those in developing countries should enact legislation to ensure that girls have equal and equitable access to education as the investment in educating girls may bring in more dividends than any other sector.

Young girls are a segment of society that have untapped potential. They have the power to inspire others and change things for the better. Their involvement in different developments can ensure that the advancement of women’s rights and promotion of gender equality grow, gather momentum and continue through future generations.

Most young women view feminism as an outdated and historic concept which is only for radicals. Awareness has to be created within them that it’s not so, that it’s very much a current movement and one in which young women play a vital role. Though some view ‘feminism’ in a negative light, the movement has one laudable goal: a better world for women and girls, which means a better world for everyone.

Women should learn to question gender imbalances whether at home or at work and in all walks of life. Men also have a role to play, in challenging traditional assumptions, gender stereotypes and outdated attitudes.

An important factor in equality is early socialisation; boys and girls should be provided with early childhood education so that they all grow up with the same values and opportunities. Most films, television programs, novels and even school textbooks perpetuate gender stereotypes. These have to be changed to portray men and women as equals. It is important that the same opportunities and access to leadership roles are provided for both genders to create a peaceful and more equal and balanced world.

Extraordinary role

A statement by UNWomen had described the day as a time to reflect on progress made, to call for change and to celebrate acts of courage and determination by ordinary women who have played an extraordinary role in the history of their countries and communities.

The main objective of the IWD should be to make the women of the past proud, the women of the present inspired and the women of the future envisioned.

On IWD, humanity should once again renew its commitment to the ongoing work towards women’s equal participation in economic and political decision-making.

The world should commit itself to challenging the extent of violence against one half of humanity by the other half that continues despite ongoing efforts of individuals, governments and the international community.

History of IWD

The first national Women’s Day was observed on February 28, 1909 in the United States following a declaration by the Socialist Party of America during a time of great expansion and turbulence in the industrialised world, with rapid population growth and the rise of radical ideologies. An International Women’s Conference was organised to precede the general meeting of the Socialist Second International in Copenhagen in August 1910. The proposal to establish an annual International Women’s Day was made by German Socialist Luise Zietz at this event and was seconded by Clara Zetkin. The 100 women delegates from 17 countries who were present at the event agreed to the idea as a strategy to promote equal rights, including suffrage for women.

The following year, on March 18, 1911, IWD was marked for the first time by over a million people in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland. Women demanded that they be given the right to vote and to hold public office. They also protested against sex discrimination in employment.

From its official adoption in Russia following the Soviet Revolution in 1917, the event was predominantly celebrated in communist and socialist countries. In the West, International Women’s Day was first observed after 1977 when the United Nations General Assembly invited member states to proclaim March 8 as the UN Day for Women’s Rights and International Peace.

It was in 1975, which had been designated International Women’s Year, that the United Nations had given official sanction to, and began sponsoring, International Women’s Day.

Today, the day is a national holiday in most countries and many events are held by governments, women’s groups, charities and other organisations around the world. The United States has designated the whole month of March as ‘Women’s History Month’. The 100th anniversary of the event was celebrated last year.