'Choose To Challenge' for a 'Gender-Inclusive World'

Nayana Madhu Dutta

(The writer is a senior manager, Public Affairs (CSR),

Oil India Limited, Duliajan, Assam. She can be reached at nayana.m.dutta@gmail.com)

This year's theme of International Women's Day (IWD) -- celebrated on March 8 every year -- 'Choose To Challenge' reminds us of the challenges faced by women in as early as the 1900s as a result of the great commercial expansion and instability in the industrialized world that saw unprecedented growth of population and upsurge of radical ideologies. Since then, till date, though the nature of challenges has seen a sea change yet the underlying fact of requiring to be vocal and active to herald an all-encompassing world for women remains as it was. Women were vocal then, demanding their right to work and better pay, right to suffrage and end discrimination. From explicitly expressing solidarity by women in the past to end World War-1 to the forefront, Kurdish women fighters now, who are leading the charge against terrorism while also combating all forms of violence against women, does make us realize that even after the passage of many IWDs since 1975 (the year when the International Women's Day was celebrated for the first time by United Nations), we, as a civilization, are yet to reach the dawn wherein, we could forge a gender-inclusive world. More than 100 years have passed since 1911, when the first Women's Day event was held and around 25 years have passed since United Nations had first announced 'Celebrating the Past, Planning for the Future' as the annual theme for International Women's Day. But we, as a world, are yet to achieve the full realization of women's rights in its truest sense of the spirit. Despite the earlier campaign themes like 'Each For Equal', 'Balance For Better', 'Press For Progress', 'Be Bold For Change', 'Pledge For Parity', 'Make It Happen', 'The Gender Agenda', do make us pause to think on the plethora of awareness that still needs to be created calling out inequalities. Nevertheless, one cannot deny the path of empowerment and enlightenment paved by the brigade of strong-willed women from yesteryears who did stand not only for themselves but for an entire future generation of women to assert their resounding voice for equality. As once righty quoted by Maya Angelou, "Each time a woman stands up for herself, without knowing it possibly, without claiming it, she stands up for all women". A lookback at history shows that women have made great strides in seeking what is rightfully and legally theirs.

While we celebrate womanhood creating awareness and garnering international attention on one single day of the annual calendar, we shall also do our bit each day considering women as an indispensable part of the social and economic fabric of any nation. Women from around the world shall regularly connect and play a prominent role ranging from politics, administration, business, government activities, art and culture and much more. However, we only see the tip of the iceberg wherein only a section of women get exposed to diverse platforms for seeking knowledge or be inspired by stories of empowerment; but, a large and mostly forgotten chunk of women primarily from rural areas are yet to assume their rights to be able to see a change in the way they are being regarded as. 'Human Rights' are guaranteed to each and every one of us by virtue of our birth as individuals. But ironically, there exists a huge gap in theory and practice. The very fact of requiring to demand equality of status is the genesis of all problems related to the emancipation of women's condition in the society -- something that shall be considered as a right or the law of nature is infringed upon. Why is it that only a woman needs to make a rhetoric about her human entitlement, whether it is about equality in decision making or equal access to education and health or economic and social freedoms? Is it not surprising that even after some of the remarkable and pioneering advocacy for women's rights by early feminists like Savitribai Phule, who had started the first school for girls in India as early as 1848 in Pune, we, as a country, are still struggling to educate all our girls and hence achieve universal education? On International Women's Day, as we make a clarion call to action for accelerating gender parity, we must celebrate the achievements of women in a way that it inspires every other women and men percolating to the last mile. Freedom, equality and choice has the power to definitely bring changes in the society, but as women we too need to reshape our own perception of ourselves, step up and take lead.

Some might argue what role men must play towards realizing women's rights for an equal future. Boys from a very tender age must be taught to challenge discrimination, subjugation or violence against women manifesting whether at homes, at work, at schools or any other public places. Respecting diversity, helping transform power dynamics and showing solidarity while wearing a pair of intersectional lenses by each and every one of us is fundamental as we seek a shared vision of progress. Whether it is 'consent classes' being conducted in Nairobi for young boys which has resulted in 50% dip in rape cases in the country or 'empathy classes' made mandatory in the national curriculum of Denmark wherein students are taught to be compassionate while respecting individual differences has been instrumental in Denmark being considered as one of the top ranking happiest countries in the world. Creative communication around gender parity is also a need of the hour. For instance, Emojis being one of the fastest growing global languages and as a part of ending stigma and period poverty, for the first time a new period emoji, 'a drop of blood' was released as part of an Apple update helping women and girls to use the icon to discuss their menstrual cycles. Hence, for achieving a peaceful, thriving and sustainable world, gender equality is integral.

The world today is seeing more and more women astronauts, physicists, engineers, educationists, defense personnel, social workers, physicians, scientists, researchers, entrepreneurs as well as exceptional performers in the field of management, cinema and art. When Esther Duflo, after winning the Nobel Prize for Economics in 2019 for her work towards alleviating global poverty said, "She wanted to be a Changemaker", reflected her determination to bring changes forhumanity. Nadia Murad, the first Iraqi and Yazidi to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2018 for her path breaking work to end sexual violence as a weapon of war and armed conflict has the potential to inspire many. It was an incredible feat for women in the Indian armed forces, when Sub Lieutenant Shivangi became the first female Indian naval pilot in 2019. However, on one hand as we see commendable achievements of women across the world, there are instances as recently as 2019, when the US Soccer team demanded equal pay, after winning their fourth FIFA Women's World Cup. While in India the crime against women has been alarming and so are the gaps in other indicators like women's literacy rate, women in work force, gender wage gap, work life balance, health seeking behavior, women in media, sports, etc.

Today as we are celebrating International Women's Day, we shall emphasize on 'Generation Equality', wherein the world shall aspire for a transformative change and permanent acceleration in equality, leadership and opportunity for women and girls through collective action and global & local conversations.