International Women’s Day has created formidable awareness on the state of women in the different life spheres. It has become routine to take stock of the developments that women have furthered in their respective countries, celebrating achievements and continuing planned work to reach targets. The UN’s message to women for this year is ‘Planet 50-50 by 2030’; ‘Step It Up For Gender Equality’; ‘Achieving Parity by 2030’. 2030 is only 14 years away and according to predicted developments, at the present pace it is estimated that 50 years are required to achieve a significant growth, which may not even reach the parity stage. Why does this phenomenon continue to persist?
The National Council of Women believes in empowering women, not necessarily to be immediately equal in numbers with their male counterparts on boards and at the workplace, but more importantly to be able to understand how the decisions being taken today are affecting them at present and what long-term effect these decisions will have on them and their families; to be educated enough to make informed choices; to not having to say ‘I would have resolved this issue differently had I known better’ .
An empowered, informed and educated woman is a source of enlightenment to all her family and her acquaintances. This initial process will start and fast track the target of 50-50 parity by 2030 – a 50 per cent representation in all spheres including Parliament. Developing the female potential will bring about a positive social change, influencing and assisting others to release their full potential. It is a known fact that the woman is the first educator in the family, so it makes sense that reaching out to women will generate a better society.
Of all the hindrances a woman faces throughout her life, none has the most devastating effect as lack of education and empowerment. What life skills are girls are given today? What choices as to subject and job choices are the girls advised to take from an early age? Are they still being told that some subjects are for boys, especially the STEM subjects? How can girls progress if they are directed from a young age to go for the usual women jobs? Fathers have an important part to play in the development of the girl and her future achievements. The father who believes in the potential of his daughter and encourages her will see her inevitably succeed in whatever she chooses to do. Likewise for partners and husbands.
It is time that the government and society consolidate their determination to exponentially increase the percentage of female representation in order to achieve these goals and stop the wastage of female contribution both at domestic and international level.
Mary Gaerty
President
National Council of Women Malta