International Women's Day 2021

NAME OF FEATURE | THE GLEANER | MONDAY, MARCH 8, 2021 3 INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY for women all over the world and culminated in the first officially recognised National Woman’s Day (NWD) that was observed across the United States on February 28, 1909. Women have never stopped climbing uphill to try and get the recognition they deserve, constantly fighting battles of op- pression, discrimination and mar- ginalisation along the way. While the climb to equality has not yet ended, whenever they look down from the mountain they have been climbing, they can be proud of the distance between them and the base of the mountain. The theme for this year’s International Women’s Day is, Women in Leadership: Achieving an Equal Future in a COVID-19 World, and the social media campaign theme is #ChoosetoChallenge. #ChoosetoChallenge is a call to action that reinforces the need for continued opposition against gen- der bias and inequality. International Women’s Day: CelebratingWomen of Distinction is a feature dedicated to highlighting the incredible exploits of women across all industries. The challenges women face within these industries are centuries old, and are a result of women being taken for granted. A woman’s worth was once based upon what she could offer to a man. Now a wom- an’s worth is about what she offers. PERIOD. Being a woman is about much more than sitting quietly and look- ing pretty. Women are capable of serving looks and serving their fami- lies, communities and countries just as well or even better than any man. However, being a woman of dis- tinction does not mean one has to have a fancy job, we want to cel- ebrate the unsung heroes in our communities, churches and homes who do all the hard work that go unnoticed. This International Women’s Day is not just a celebration of all the things women have achieved, but a revolution against all institutions that refuse to value the contribution of a woman based on gender or sex. #ChooseToChallenge represents the indomitable fighting spirit of distinguished women from all walks of life who will no longer say they are challenged, but instead will weaponise their tenacity and be- come examples to others. Women who understand the kind of battle in which they are currently involved have a responsibility to leave the fight in a place where future generations have an easier fight ahead. It is important that those who are able to challenge the system continue to keep the fire of revolu- tion burning. Women are the back- bone of many of our industries and this day serves as a reminder of their invaluable contributions. Women of today, let a young lady centuries from now read about your unwavering spirit in the face of gender inequality, and let her say: She came, she saw, she conquered, and she did it looking fabulous! #ChooseToChallenge IWD 2021 #ChooseToChallenge IWD 2021 Women have never stopped climbing uphill to try and get the recognition they deserve, constantly fighting battles of oppression, discrimination and marginalisation along the way. While the climb to equality has not yet ended, whenever they look down from the mountain they have been climbing, they can be proud of the distance between them and the base of the mountain.