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Equality for Women is Progress for All – An International Women’s Day 2014 Special

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Compiled by Cheryl Sevegan and Ferdie Bravo

Hilary Clinton, Marie Curie, Margaret Thatcher, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Eleanor Roosevelt, Oprah Winfrey, Miriam Defensor Santiago, Serena and Venus Williams – they are famous women personalities around the globe. But what do these women have in common? Amongst them are current and former political leaders, scientist, intellectual educators, entertainer, entrepreneurs, activists and sportswomen, but one thing they have in common is that these are courageous women who raised their voice in protest of what they thought as unjust treatment to girls in their respective fields of profession.

No longer silent and passive, no longer confined to kitchens and household chores, women today are educators and athletes, politicians and activists, and doctors and adventurers. Women entrepreneurs are now successful in business. Women scientists make breakthrough discoveries. Women journalists and writers suggest new ways of examining issues and events.

As the world revolves into the next millennium, one thing is certain: Women will never be the same again and neither will the world. Women in this era help bring about major transformations in various aspects of our lives.

Consider this question in your mind: What would the world be like without Eleanor Roosevelt’s compassionate action? Would someone help the destitute and needy in India instead of the loving and caring hands of Mother Theresa? Where would societies be without the liberating message of freedom and equality from impassioned women like Betty Friedan, Margaret Sanger and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi? Can a man mimic the fearless voice of Mrs. Santiago that borders between truth and insult in the Senate?

Through the years, we’ve seen the greatest women in history making the greatest impact with their humble accomplishments that will be mentioned in the annals of humanity and their influence will definitely reverberate for untold years to come.

Women’s rights and equality between genders of both sexes have improved by leaps and bounds since the establishment of the International Women’s Day in 1911. Although there are still nations that look down at women as second class citizens due to strict adherence on their faith and belief (mostly in the Muslim world), most democratic governments now have gradually accepted that fact that everybody has the same rights irrespective of gender and race.

Through the years we’ve seen gutsy women speaking about abuse, discrimination and inequality, which spun into a revolution resulting to the many different feminist groups and activists, protesting what they perceived as unfair treatment in their workplace and environment where they live. The openness by which most government societies now accept women as a vital player in the progress and development is the product of an era marked by rapid change and upheaval in the industrialized world.

As the planet’s population continuously grows, demand for labor increasing, and new ideologies taking shape, women are thrust into a brave new world confronted with a host of different challenges where their contribution is seen as vitally important as the men’s. Thus, setting a day to commemorate the importance of women in the realization of our dreams is simply right and just like this International Women’s Day.

Two years after the first observance of the IWD, the date was officially set to March 8, the date by which it’s been celebrated globally ever since. Rallies and protests around the world demanding the rights for women to education, work, vote, be trained and hold public office, were constant features in various places every time IWD is celebrated.

Today, International Women’s Day is recognized by the UN and is an official holiday in 27 countries. On this day each year, men are asked to honor their mothers, wives, girlfriends and colleagues — similar to Mother’s Day, when boys and men celebrate and give gifts to their mothers and grandmothers.

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Esther Rantzen

Esther Rantzen, a English woman who made pioneering programs on subjects including British women’s experience of childbirth, stillbirth, mental health and child abuse, concluded when asked about the significance of IWD for her, “Appreciating the freedom and opportunities that women in Britain have and challenging the fact that so many women in so many other countries round the world are still deprived of that most crucial gift of all – education. Of course, there are many barriers still to break down in Britain, but we at least recognize that women have the right to ask questions about why we don’t have equal pay and why we’re not represented in Parliament or the boardroom in sufficient numbers. But look at what the Taliban, for example, are doing to women who want to educate girls.”

This year’s celebration highlights the importance of achieving equality for women and girls not simply because it is a matter of fairness and fundamental human rights, but because progress in so many other areas depends on it.

Based on statistics and data, countries with more gender equality have better economic growth. Companies with more women leaders perform better and peace agreements that include women are more durable.  Parliaments with more women enact more legislation on key social issues such as health, education, anti-discrimination and child support and they are considered the ‘heart that speaks its conscience’ in many legislative and judicial bodies. Important gains have been made in access to primary education for girls and political representation by women, but progress remains far too slow and uneven.

Ms. Rantzen added, “A baby girl born today will still face inequality and discrimination, no matter where her mother lives.  We have a common obligation to ensure her right to live free from the violence that affects one in three women globally; to earn equal pay for equal work; to be free of the discrimination that prevents her from participating in the economy; to have an equal say in the decisions that affect her life; and to decide if and when she will have children, and how many she will have.

I have a message for every girl born today, and to every woman and girl on the planet:  Realizing human rights and equality is not a dream, it is a duty of governments, the United Nations and every human being.

I also have a message for my fellow men and boys: play your part.  All of us benefit when women and girls – your mothers, sisters, friends and colleagues — can reach their full potential.

Together, let us work for women’s rights, empowerment and gender equality as we strive to eliminate poverty and promote sustainable development.  Equality for women is progress for all!”

Lamenting discrimination against women and girls worldwide, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said: “Where men and women have equal rights, societies prosper.”

ONE FOR THE RECORD

Organizers of a rally marking the event in the Philippine capital, Manila, couldn’t agree more.

“The reason why we are doing this is because we want to reaffirm our commitment to create an enabling environment for women to become better in what they do,” said organizing committee partner, Gilda Patricia Maquilan. “In that way, they can help in uplifting the lives of their family and their communities.”

The Manila rally at the Quirino grandstand involved thousands of women standing in a giant human formation of the cross-like female scientific symbol. Not only was it a huge statement on behalf of women but the female formation could also make it into the Guinness Book of Records.

As the world marked International Women’s Day on March 8, thousands gathered in Manila to set a record for the biggest human formation of the female symbol—a circle with a cross underneath—to kick off month-long activities honoring the resiliency of Filipino women.

With a tally of 10,168, organizers of the event were confident that the activity would make it to the Guinness World Records for the highest number of participants forming the woman’s symbol, a gender sign that also denotes the astrological symbol of planet Venus.

Guinness requires only 250 people in formation for 15 minutes. Organizers said it would take a week before the record is officially validated by Guinness World Records.

There is no previous record for the largest human formation of a gender symbol, although the Guinness website lists 10,563 people as taking part in a giant formation of a droplet in Haryana, India, in November 2013.

The activity was held by the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW), the national machinery for gender equality and empowerment, to raise awareness of gender issues and recognize women’s role in their overall contribution to progress and disaster recovery.

Wearing white shirts, delegates from the government, academic institutions, private sector and civil society groups assembled at Quirino Grandstand at 6 a.m. to join the human formation. The Armed Forces of the Philippines provided field marshals and aerial video documentation of the activity, which will be sent to Guinness.

By 7 a.m., the participants lined up for the formation on Burnham Green, Rizal Park’s parade grounds. They were given wrist tags for proper accounting, which was checked by auditors from Sycip Gorres Velayo and Co.

The launching of Women’s Month, with the theme “Juana ang tatag mo ay tatag natin sa pagbangon at pagsulong,” was held in partnership with Coca-Cola Philippines.

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Six out of 10 women were beaten up at home and there was a high incidence of incest in the Philippines. However, victims are ashamed to seek help and, oftentimes, blame themselves. That’s why it is important to teach women at the barangay level to create a support system so as to prevent future abuses.

While the Philippines might be better off than other countries (we don’t have honor killing or the tradition of killing women who have been raped, female circumcision or dowry system), there is still a lot left to be desired when it comes to discrimination and equal opportunity.

As the world becomes more open and tolerant of women’s rights and equality, there is a great hope that someday they will be able to perform to their full potential as partners of men in shaping and directing our future. It will be a grand moment when women won’t be considered the weaker of the two sexes anymore, and that every field of human endeavor, every spectrum of the society, we will see women happily doing their tasks receiving equal pay for equal work just like the men.

Here are some Empowerment Quotes for women:

“Woman is the companion of man, gifted with equal mental capacity.” — Gandhi

“Women are leaders everywhere you look — from the CEO who runs a Fortune 500 company to the housewife who raises her children and heads her household. Our country was built by strong women, and we will continue to break down walls and defy stereotypes.” — Nancy Pelosi

“Nobody can make you feel inferior without your permission.” — Eleanor Roosevelt

“Women have served all these centuries as looking glasses possessing the magic and delicious power of reflecting the figure of a man at twice its natural size.” — Virginia Woolf

“The thing women have yet to learn is nobody gives you power. You just take it.” — Roseanne Barr

“The fastest way to change society is to mobilize the women of the world.” — Charles Malik

My Top 3 personal list of empowered women:

1.)  The women leaders around the globe fighting for our rights and recognition as women notwithstanding whatever it takes them.

2.)  The Women in Uniform (especially the IDF ladies), who at their young age are already trained to defend their homeland. I personally give my highest regard and respect to them.

3.) I personally considered OFW women (especially mothers working away from their families and loved ones) as empowered women facing the challenges alone in life. They sacrificed a lot and struggle to give a better future for their families.

Without girls and women, humanity’s existence will simply cease to exist. They sustain the continuous presence of life on the face of the Earth which is their biggest contribution that we can’t deny. Nations and governments may be ruled by powerful men, but behind every man is a woman (his wife, sister or mother). On behalf of Focal magazine, we salute all beautiful, tough and strong women around the world.


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