International Women’s Day is marked on the 8th of March every year. International Women’s Day celebrated worldwide, honors working women and women’s struggle everywhere. Taught that women’s place in history is relatively undistinguished, it should be a real source of pride and inspiration to women to know that International Women’s Day originated in honor of two strikes with women only which took place in the U.S.
On March 8, 1857, garment workers in New York City marched and picketed, demanding improved working conditions, a ten hour day, and equal rights for women. Their ranks were broken up by the police. Fifty-one years later, March 8, 1908, their sisters in the needle trades in New York marched again, honoring the 1857 march, demanding the vote, and an end to sweatshops and child labor. The police were present on this occasion too.
On this day every year, people demonstrate their love and appreciation to women across the globe. This is a vital year for advancing the cause of women’s human rights. This year, the campaign theme is “Pledge for Parity”.
One may wonder what parity is. According to the Miriam Webster Dictionary, Parity is the quality or state of being equal or equivalent. We find today that many women globally have commenced taking their rightful places in the workplace and the home. A certain level of equality has been achieved.
Worldwide, women continue to contribute to social, economic, cultural and political achievement. In Dominica, we have seen an increase of women in the parliament and in top positions in the organizational structure of many businesses. At the Dominica Public Service Union Executive Body, there are an equal number of men to women and this is commendable.
Gender parity is linked to economic prosperity. It’s an economic imperative. Women’s advancement and leadership are central to business performance and economic prosperity. Profitability, returns on investments and innovation all increase when women are counted among senior leadership.
Numerous global studies on the impact of women in leadership reveal the following findings:
– Women are the largest emerging market in the world
– More equality means higher GDP
– More equality means more productivity
– Better gender balance on boards means better share price and financial performance
– More gender-balanced leadership means better all-around performance
– More women political leaders means more prosperity
In 2014, the World Economic Forum predicted that it would take until 2095 to achieve global gender parity. However in 2015, when it was expected for results to change for the better, it was reported that there was an estimated slowdown in the already glacial pace of progress which meant that the gender gap wouldn’t close entirely until 2133. This shows a further delay of 38 years.
This is where, we as a committee call for the support of each and every Dominican. Men and women alike we encourage you to take steps to assist us achieve the goal of gender parity at a quicker pace than what is predicted. How you may ask? We can assist women and girls to achieve their ambitions by supporting their education, respect and value difference, ensure that there is always gender balance in the leadership of any organization which you are involved in, ensure that there is no work bias and discrimination against women. We have urgent work to do. Be a leader within your own spheres of influence and commit to take pragmatic action to accelerate gender parity.
I am very proud of the DPSU Women’s Committee for their well written and informed document on the importance of women. We must all remember that women play a critical role in the world and if not recognized we will really depriving the world of growth and development.
Keep on supporting women. They are the mothers, wives, sisters, cousins and the list continues. Happy International Women’s Day.