What does it mean to be and feel like a woman today? For me, it as a constant oscillation between empowerment and struggle. I am not speaking about the biological classification of what is defined as female but more on the expectations and representations of women - not necessarily in a Shania Twain's way.
As we celebrated Women's day yesterday, it makes sense to dedicate this week's writeup to women. I am drawing here from my reflections I discussed yesterday during my public lecture on representations of women, as part of the series of public lectures at the Oratories at the Jesuits Church, Valletta. It was indeed a paradoxical setting for discussing women's cultural conditioning. The Church, as one of the institutionalised structures that has long reinforced patriarchal norms hindering women's empowerment. The Church, with its over representation of males in all hierarchies including sainthood. Yet, it is also within the walls of a Jesuit Church that next week, an inspiring number of women will be graduating with their postgraduate degrees.
Women have long been navigating a complex web for obstacles and opportunities. More than ever, speaking in plural on women is misleading. We cannot simply assume one type of woman, determined by sex. Yet, irrespective of the intricacies in defining sex and gender today, there are still certain cultural conditionings experienced by all women. These conditions transverse other identities like class, age, and ethnic background, though at different gradients.
"Wanna make some noise, really raise my voice, Yeah, I wanna scream and shout, no inhibitions, make no conditions, get a little outta line.." sang Shania Twain almost 30 years ago in the country pop song 'Man, I Feel Like a Woman'. The release of this song happened just sixteen years after the lifting of the barrier of the marriage bar in Malta; A law which restricted women from working once they married. Cultural conditionings by the state and the church worked to safeguard the workplace as men's world and domesticating women to the roles of wives, housewives and mothers.
On contrary the emphasis in the last two decades was reversed - pulling more women out of their kitchens to contribute to the economic labour market. The reason usually given is not for her own autonomy and financial independence but to satisfy the economic demands, including contributing to the ever-growing aging population. Incentives to reach this goal were many. Tax breaks, free child care centres, and now increased grants for having more children. The blame-game on the low fertility rate has put women at the focus of discussion for not having enough children in line with demographic predictions. Women may not scream and shout, but they are constantly voicing their opinions on what struggles remain real today.
The struggles on balancing work and family life, on meeting the basic standards of living for a decent life, to have affordable housing for them and their offspring and on top of that, navigating gender inequalities which still persist. This is statistically proven. Less women than males occupy professional positions. Lifting your feet up the promotional ladder is harder for women than for their male counterparts. They seem to get stuck for various reasons. Direct and indirect comments on the expectations and limitations of women still echo in their ears.
Women are more caught up in a web of responsibilities. Statistically, women are more prone to work part-time and to pause or resign from work during child bearing years. They are more likely to be excluded in boardroom discussions and in policy-making positions.
It is a fact that many women from vulnerable backgrounds face added concrete barriers which are even harder to break. I have recently been involved in researching young women in extremely challenging life situations-those who find themselves navigating permeable social safety nets. These women often become entangled in a web of personal and social issues, leading to fatalistic mentalities. They are more vulnerable to domestic violence, all sorts of abuse and lack the educational opportunities that could help improve their lives and those of their children. A pressing question is how recent strategies are addressing these harsh realities. In some cases, the gap is only widening. Take for instance the recent discussions on the new SBA (School-Based Assessment) system, which involves constant assessment of students - a system which is more than ever dependent on constant guidance and monitoring at home to keep up with the increasing demands. Just last week I had to polish up my algebraic skills to better guide my child. How are young girls (and boys), especially living in vulnerable environments in particular, managing these heightened educational demands? Many are unable to keep up, especially when their mothers, often barely literate themselves, cannot offer any support. What this does is it perpetuate the system of inaccessibility to these girls who end up experiencing similar barriers as their mothers.
What's more, women are still represented in the media as dependable, infantized and sexualised. This infantilization perpetuated the idea that women should be protected or controlled by male figures, typically fathers or husbands. While this view is largely outdated, remnants of it still exist in workplace cultures, where women are sometimes underestimated or patronized, especially in male-dominated sectors. What comes to mind is a recent bumper sticker I came across while in traffic - "I Have a Daughter, I Have a Gun". The Marlbolo ad cowboy lookalike driver boasting this sign on his car wanted to emphasize how fathers should take an assertive, even aggressive stance in safeguarding their daughters. While it's understandable for a father to want to protect his child, this kind of mindset can be problematic because it frames women as helpless or in need of constant guarding. Taking off the cowboy boots and promote girls' autonomy, agency, and ability to navigate the world independently would be more apt.
Yet it is also true that young women today are better off than a generation ago. Statistically, we have encouraging data that show more women in post-compulsory education, in professional jobs and who are focused on their personal development. Women have made significant strides toward autonomy and equality, irrespective of systemic barriers. Recognizing these needs and breaking rigid gender expectations-rather than treating women solely as instruments to satisfy economic demands-presents a path forward. Strategies and policies must be better aligned to view women as autonomous, financially independent individuals, free to determine their own life choices.
Reclaiming cowboy boots but singing to Twain's playful and confident anthem becomes here a symbol of individuality, urging others to break free from stereotypes and economic expectations. I hope female readers embrace this message, feeling empowered with fierce confidence to express themselves in their own ways.
Prof. Valerie Visanich is an Associate Professor in Sociology