EDITORIAL: Push still on for gender equality

International Women’s Day was celebrated across the globe on Sunday, March 8, 2020. International Women’s Day is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women, while also marking a call to action for accelerating gender equality.

The International Women’s Day (IWD) 2020 campaign theme was “Each for Equal”. The core message of the Each for Equal campaign, served to draw attention to the idea that gender inequality isn’t a women’s issue alone, but an economic one, since gender equality is essential for economies and communities to thrive. It is said however, that the race is still on for the gender equal boardroom, a gender equal government, gender equal media coverage, gender equal workplaces, gender equal sports coverage, more gender equality in health and wealth, and such like. The IWD 2020 campaign therefore highlighted six key areas of focus, that of championing women forging tech innovation; applauding equality for women athletes; forging inclusive workplaces so women thrive; supporting women to earn on their own terms; empowering women through health education; and increasing visibility for female creatives.

Now according to the Telegraph, IWD’s original aim – to achieve full gender equality for women across the world – has still not been realised. It is said that a gender pay gap persists across the globe and women are still not present in equal numbers, in business or politics. Figures show that globally, women’s education, health and violence towards women, is still worse than that of men. And according to the World Economic Forum, the gender gap won’t close until 2186. On IWD, women across the world came together therefore to force the world to recognise these inequalities, whilst also celebrating the achievements of women who have overcome these barriers.

Here in Barbados, a number of organisations headed by women, conducted their own activities to celebrate and highlight International Women’s Day and the fight for gender equality, and such efforts are to be commended. We do acknowledge that whilst a number of strides have been made on the local front where women are concerned and that they have broken barriers long holding them back in the political and business arena, there is still much more that can be done, when it comes to ensuring that women are given their rightful dues and are not held to a standard that suggests they cannot do the task assigned as good as a man would. Women should also be able to serve in whatever sphere of endeavour they desire, without being harassed or talked down to. Indeed, women can hold their own and they have proven so to date.

Nevertheless, whilst the focus is on women this month, we hope the men will not feel left out, but will support efforts and endeavours geared at celebrating our women throughout the month of March, recognising that there is no need to work against women, but work with them for the best outcomes. After all, men must admit that women hold great prominence in their lives, whether it be as their mothers, wives, partners or even as their daughters, and they should be appreciated, celebrated and treated like the queens that they are.