Thelma Chandafira
Worldwide, women continue to contribute to social, economic, cultural and political achievement, and the 8th of March is a day set aside globally to celebrate these achievements made over the years. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity with this year’s theme titled “Pledge for Parity”.
According to the internationalwomensday.com, by pledging for parity every man and woman pledge to take a concrete step to help achieve gender parity more quickly whether to help women and girls achieve their ambitions, call for gender-balanced leadership, respect and value difference, develop more inclusive and flexible cultures or root out workplace bias. Each of us can be a leader within our own spheres of influence and commit to take pragmatic action to accelerate gender parity.
In the spirit of accelerating gender parity, as women we should stick together and stop normalizing what is not normal like having only men in the high offices, not able to make certain decisions if not in agreement with a male counterpart or agree to polygamy as a cultural norm.
As much as the international women’s day celebrates the achievement of women around the world, it is also important that women’s movements not segregate men over the years when addressing issues on gender equality/parity. There is need to start integrating men in the fight for equality on the basis that equality is their issue too and some men suffer from the stereotyping attached to gender and the more our movements are inclusive the faster we can achieve parity.
Globally, with individuals pledging to move from talk to purposeful action and with men and women joining forces we can jointly help women advance equal to their numbers and realize the infinite potential they offer economies the world over.
In Zimbabwe over the years the number of women taking their place in influential offices has increased due to the gospel of equality and parity. The moment we as a nation realize that gender is not a barrier the more ideas and help we give each other through collective ideas and assorted nation building policies and plans.
There are still a large number of women who feel inferior and accept a place in the shadows of men. As a woman it is your own decision to stand up for yourself and what you believe in, stop allowing men to treat you as a sex object and not an asset that adds value to a situation be it in the home or workplace.
Let us stand together and celebrate the women that have stood up and claimed their place in the world from social, economic, cultural to political spheres because of merit and not gender alone. We are fighting for a gender sensitive world and it begins with a single step by many individuals.
Pledge for parity!!! What is your place in ensuring a gender sensitive and women empowered world?