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2020 International Women's Day! #EachforEqual


Happy International Women’s Day! As we’ve entered a new decade, let us decided the changes we want to embody, let us be the women we're born to be, let us teach the young girl to love themselves exceptionally but importantly let’s teach the world that we are phenomenal...

It’s in the click of my heels,

The bend of my hair,

the palm of my hand,

The need for my care.

’Cause I’m a woman

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,

That’s me.

- Maya Angelou

This year’s theme for International Women’s Day is #EachforEqual. As quoted on the international women’s day website “Equality is not a women’s issue, it’s a business issue.” Let this be the decade where gender equality is present in all business, from parliament to boardrooms. Let’s fight for equality for women, but also equality within women.

We at Maendeleo believe that just having equality for women isn’t good enough and that we need equality for all women. Equality within different cultures, race, societies, disabilities and identities. We live in a world where women have always fought for equal right and we’re still fighting! For the minorities, the prospects are even less. Let this decade be written in history as the decade women took a stand, creating equality, equality for all women, including their minorities. Allowing all to receive the same opportunities to prosper.

Let there be equality for women of colour; women of colour are still extremely underrepresented in many private and public sectors. Within the technology sector, only 8.5% of minority background are senior leaders, and Almost two-thirds of boards in technology have no female representation at all. Women of colour working in the technology sector are even less. Stats from a Forbes survey in 2018 state: For every 100 men promoted to manager, only 60 black women are and 40% of black women have had their judgment questioned in their area of expertise; compared to 27% of men.

Let there be equality for Mothers, Women who must take time off to raise children’s battle with getting back into work due to the career gap. Parents that have career gaps to raise their children, shouldn’t be compared to others nor denied work due to their responsibilities as a parent. Let there be equality for single mothers, especially those who are burdened with not being able to devote themselves to the expectations of those without the same commitments. Equality isn’t just giving them the same hours and pay but providing the right opportunities to do so.

Let there be equality for all our girls in schools. Afro-Caribbean children in school are being told their hair is too big and preventing other kids from learning or doesn’t follow school uniform policies. By telling a child that their appearance is affecting someone else’s development can be damaging for their self-esteem and confidence. Especially when singling out racial features that make them unique. Let our schools use Townley Grammar School southeast London, as an example of equality and individuality by introduced radical changes to both the curriculum and uniform policies.

Let there be equality for women with Disabilities. Let there be equality for women with Disabilities. Women and girls with disabilities face double difficulties in both school, work and social environments. Those that fall within other minority categories find it even harder. Equality goes beyond the workplace but the way of life. As stated in the United Nations website “Women with disabilities face significantly more difficulties – in both public and private spheres – in attaining access to adequate housing, health, education, vocational training and employment, and are more likely to be institutionalized. They also experience inequality in hiring, promotion rates and pay for equal work, access to training and retraining, credit and other productive resources”.

Let us speak more about Intersectionality and equality within it. Systemic changes in business and school need to change. Assigning work hours that fit the individuals, assigning rules that promote equality and individuality. As mentioned in our blog last year. Let us Inspire, embrace and create. INSPIRE women to be free, to EMBRACE others to believe they too, have what it takes to be the best they can be and CREATE the opportunities that allow all to thrive and truly express our identities.

Read the article from United Nations web page:

https://www.un.org/development/desa/disabilities/issues/women-and-girls-with-disabilities.html

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