Women's day tends to bring about two divisive opinions: those wishing every woman they know a Happy Women's Day, perhaps not even thinking about the significance of such wishes, and, on the other hand, the others who firmly declare that they do not want to be wished a Happy Women's Day because they do not need a 'special' day to validate women.
History can be boring, but it can also be insightful, especially before deciding which category you wish to place yourself in. An annual "international women's day" was first organised in March 1911 and was originally set up to fight for women's right to vote. You would say, well, women have the right to vote now. Yes, but women in Saudi Arabia only received this right in 2015. It also fought for women to be in public office and to have equal employment rights.
According to UN Women, the United Nations entity dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women, women serve as Heads of State or Government in only 21 countries, and 119 countries have never had a woman leader. At the current rate, parity in the highest decisions of power will not be reached for another 130 years.
Just 10 countries have a female Head of State, and 13 countries have a woman Head of Government. Only 21% of government ministers were women, with only 14 countries having achieved 50% or more women in Cabinets. With an annual increase of just 0.52 percentage points, gender parity in ministerial positions will not be achieved before 2077.
Some may feel that a day dedicated to women offers no gain, and perhaps only goes further to highlight the inequality. I tend to understand this, but put yourself in other peoples' shoes. This day allows women (and perhaps even men) to write about their story, or even to protest, or is just an excuse to talk to someone about an abusive relationship they may be in. There is fundamentally nothing wrong with having a day to highlight the differences which are still ever so present.
I too have a story to tell on this day. It is, in essence, no different from a story that every one of us women has to share, just in different context.
By profession, I am an engineer, which rest assured is still a man's world. I studied engineering in the U.K. which you would think is quite a liberal country. While working on a presentation with a classmate, I decided to point out a mistake he had made and he immediately retorted, "you're a girl, what do you know!".
Finishing my studies and entering the working world did not ease the underhanded sexist remarks. In my first job, I used to dress in formal work attire, embracing my womanhood and putting on makeup and, when not on-site, wearing heels. Certain statements and comments could easily be decrypted to reveal their true meaning, that I did not belong in the building services sector because I did not visually fit in.
Onto another job, which was somewhat different from the first, I decided to dress casually and with no makeup, to fit in. This helped a little, but why should I have to do this to fit in? Today, more experienced in my role, and more confident in my demeanour, I am not easily affected by such remarks, but I do, sometimes, feel I have to justify my knowledge by having to state my achievements.
Today, as I enter the political sphere, I enter another world which, unfortunately, is predominately masculine. The Nationalist Party supports my abilities and is being proactive towards women who wish to enter politics. On the subject of domestic violence the Nationalist Party believes in better education and a change in mentality - that no one is better than the other. Women and men are different, but they should not have different rights.
Just as I share my story, I hope others feel they can do the same. I encourage women to speak out against inequality, abuse and to know they are not alone.
Women's equality has moved forward by leaps and bounds, but let us embrace this day to see how far we have come and to keep on pushing forward until one-day stereotypes are broken, women have equal pay, equal employment rights, and are wherever they want to be - be it in the boardroom, in parliament, or as a stay-at-home mum.
Rebekah Cilia is an Engineer and PN Candidate on the 7th and 11th districts.