International Women's Day

The ultimate call for change

Every day is a women’s day, whether they are mothers, sisters, daughters or wives. There is no doubt that they play their roles as caregivers dutifully and with true heartedness. However, officially every year around the globe, International Women's Day is celebrated on March 8 with full zeal and reverence. It’s a day that highlights the role of women and their countless achievements and contributions to our society.

Women have shone in every aspect of lives, whether we talk about cultural, social, economic or political. Previously, they were denied their basic rights such as education and freedom of speech. For years they have been confined to household chores, silently suppressing their pain behind closed doors while being a victim of violence and abuse. But with time many things have changed. The gender discrimination that existed long ago has been considerably nipped, liberating them from the shackles of servitude and submissiveness. IWD is a call for change, to tell the world that women are no longer vulnerable. 

Breaking the barriers!

As the world is becoming more mindful of women emancipation, women too are becoming independent by breaking societal norms. More and more women can be seen working at high level positions in sectors such as Tech, Government, Marketing, Retail, Finance, Manufacturing, Healthcare, Education, Engineering and Aviation etc. A major breakthrough can be seen in a country like Pakistan with a benighted majority. Women can now be seen riding on their own bikes without depending on their male counterparts. This is considered a dauntless act, since they live in a male dominant society and are constantly subjected to criticism.  Many of them are struggling, supporting their families by either working in offices or from their homes in order to make their ends meet. A number of women are working in the sportswear factories in Sialkot, but the salary they receive is much lower than the male workforce. There are several examples of women who have left a mark through their incredible achievements. One of the most successful woman Jacqueline de Rojas, the president of techUK has been serving as the Chair of the board of digital Leaders. Similarly, Jacinda Arden, the 40th prime minister of New Zealand and a very courageous woman was the youngest female to be appointed as the head of government. 

Embarking on the tech journey

Though, tech industry has been levelled up by some of the many prominent figures and male entrepreneurs such as Bill Gates, Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg. But it is impressive the way many career oriented women are penetrating into this sector. A psychological study revealed that women are 2% smarter and intellectually superior to men. Many well established firms and global giants such as Facebook, Microsoft, Apple and Google are hiring more women as employees. Reports have also shown that 20% of the tech startups have been backed and established by women. Also, out of 15 Fortunate companies 6 have hired females Chief Information Officer. Another businesswoman and billionaire in the IT industry is Zhou Qunfei, the owner of LENS.

However, all this does not mean that they are no longer in a tight spot. Many of them have left their jobs in the tech and other industries because of poor working conditions, unsafe environment, and long working hours. Some argued that they were underpaid, while 27% of them stated that they faced issues with the work life balance and could not give enough time and attention to their families. However, by offering flexible working hours, proper mentor programs and opportunities for personal growth and development, companies can retain and bring back their female workforce. 

In a nutshell, International Women Day is the lightning globe that has awakened many conservative mindset individuals and fanatics. Worldwide peaceful demonstrations have given them an opportunity to raise their voices that were previously subdued. They now see a ray of hope to fulfill their dreams without much restrictions or suffering from injustice.