8 March was International Women’s Day. The day is about commemorating women’s rights, and this year’s theme was, Be Bold for Change.
The theme really got me thinking about all the challenges women face on a daily basis. Things don’t seem to get any easier for women. There are many obstacles we face and sacrifices we have to make. My question is, will gender inequality ever end? You find women who work the same job as men in the mining sector being asked not to become pregnant for a period of time. That request is an obstacle if you are married and want to start a family or you are getting older and time is against you.
Women have fought for their place in boardrooms and the corporate world, and we are still fighting. We seem to have to work twice as hard in a world where men are usually the first in line for most leadership positions. We still see few woman in leadership roles and those who have made it have created platforms for themselves by starting they own companies, or have served in that company for a number of years.
When we compete on the same level, women are usually the ones who need to make sacrifices because we don’t want to be seen as weak, but yet we suffer. We put personal goals on hold to pursue career goals because we are sometimes made to feel we cannot be a mother and wife while you are leading a big company.
I’m sure many will think differently and judge me for what I’m saying. We have our views and mine are inspired by my mother who had to make a sacrifice for me and my siblings and not pursue her dreams.
The real question here is, are we pushing too hard to the point that we are forgetting it’s okay to be a woman.? Yes, we can’t usually compete with the physical strength of men, but we are more than capable in the mental strength department.
Change is a long road but while we travel it, let’s not sacrifice too much as women just because we want to prove we can perform as well as a man.
#Beproudtobeawoman #BeBoldforChange
Read: Mrs Vee’s cup of words
