March 8th 2022 celebrated women’s equality as part of the International Women’s Day with the following theme.
Imagine a gender equal world.
A world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination.
A world that is diverse, equitable, and inclusive.
A world where difference is valued and celebrated.
Together we can forge women’s equality.
Collectively we can all #BreakTheBias.
Social media was flooded with amazing images of women from across the globe, inspiring us all to be proud of who we are, celebrating how much we contribute to our families and society, and signaling how much we are valued.
Whether the topic was about vision, mentoring or advocates for others, the impact that we, as women have, was seen as special and worth honouring.
It seemed bizarre that on the same day, I read an article around gender pay gap, highlighting that New Zealand women are paid 9.1 % less than their male counterparts.
In real terms this means that women work for free from 29th November, and Maori and Pacific women have it even worse, they will work for free from November 10th and October 18th respectively.
How can this still be occurring, when the battle for equality has been raging in New Zealand for over 120 years. We led the world when Kate Sheppard and other pioneering women campaigned for equality, seeing New Zealand became the first self-governing nation in the world to grant the vote to all women over 21 in 1893.
And who can forget the anthem for Women’s empowerment, written and sung fifty years ago by Australian artist Helen Reddy which started with
I am woman, hear me roar
In numbers too big to ignore
Surely in 2022 businesses can pay for the role and the skill set and not bring gender or ethnicity into the equation. Let women be paid for the work they do and not expect them to cover the costs. #BreakTheBias
If I have to, I can do anything
I am strong, I am invincible, I am woman!
Life With Wrinkles 