International Womens Day

This Tuesday (March 8) is the 100th anniversary of International Womens Day. It is a day for celebration and also for reflection on the remaining barriers to women enjoying equality.

Women have come along way in the past century. At an international women’s conference organised by the Malaysian Government late last year I spoke on the negative side in a debate on the topic “There is nothing stopping women.”

There are still systemic issues stopping women from achieving true equality and their potential. While those issues need to be addressed, I also want to encourage women to make sure that they are not stopping themselves from achieving what they want to achieve.

Women need to make sure they don’t remain victims, believe in and market themselves and unlock their passion if they are to get the most from their short time on this planet.

When I moved to Australia from India at the age of 11 one of the first words that I learned was “nigger”. It wasn’t the last time I heard that word. This had a large impact on my self esteem. I experienced sexism but I did not let it stop me from rising to senior levels in a male dominated industry.

One of the reasons many women are stoppable is because they do not let go of their emotions. They hang on to things, to hurts that have happened in their life. I’m not condoning sexist behaviour, but women need to tackle such behaviour and move on. We must become heroes of our own lives, not remain victims.

We can’t keep blaming circumstances. If your family don’t help enough around the home, if you are paid less than your equivalent male colleague or ignored for promotion at work, do something about it. Women need to take charge of their life and destiny rather than waiting for others to change around them. As Ghandi said, “if you want to see the change then be the change”.

Women must believe in themselves and market themselves. I know of a female executive who has been touted as one of two successors to her current CEO. Despite having multiple degrees and beign a very intelligent leader, she is questioning whether she has what it takes.

Women must try and be true to their passion. I am a mum who loves my kids but, like many women, I also love my work. Despite criticism from others, including women, I went back to work when my second child was a few months old. Women must not subordinate their own needs to others.

I do not wish to generalise on the basis of gender. The issues I have raised may also apply to some men and may not apply to some women. But on the eve of this important day for women my point is that unless women get clear about their living their own passion, take responsibility for their own lives, and believe in themselves, they will be stoppable and inequality will continue to exist.

Happy International Womens Day.