By Bayan Abusalameh
Revoultion, Malak Mattar, Gaza, Palestine.
As the commemoration of International Women's Day, as was expected, various entities celebrated women and their achievements. Companies offered discounts on women's clothing, products, and services, and individuals purchased flowers and gave gifts. In light of these festivities, I have taken the opportunity to compose an article outlining actionable ways in which individuals can support and honour women and their accomplishments this Month.
Investing in Women’s Higher Education
As we continue to promote the importance of women's education, it is crucial to recognize that investing in higher education is a crucial step towards reducing bias against women. Educated women in positions of power can help to promote gender equality and challenge the status quo. One practical way to promote this change is by creating transparent fellowships and grants that are exclusively designed for female academics. This initiative can significantly contribute to increasing the representation of women in academia and promoting their research.
On this Women's Month, it is essential to support women-led research and strive towards increasing the number of published female academics. Additionally, it is imperative to ensure that these fellowships and grants are sustainable and continue for several years to come. This approach guarantees that we are taking effective steps towards closing the gap between male and female academics, rather than just providing temporary support to a small number of female researchers. Instead of merely jumping on the trend of women's empowerment and creating grants that only last for a year, let us work towards creating a sustainable platform that can benefit more female academics. This approach will create a long-lasting impact and promote gender equality in higher education.
Support Women to Achieve!
As we celebrate International Women's Day, it is crucial to recognize the ongoing struggles that women face in the workplace and commit to supporting them in achieving new heights. Rather than waiting for women to achieve something significant and then rewarding them, organizations must actively invest in the female potential by promoting women to leadership positions, supporting women-owned businesses, and providing equal opportunities for career advancement. Although gestures such as sending flowers, care packages, and emails wishing women a happy Women's Day are appreciated, they fall short of addressing the real issues that women encounter in the workplace. Women require policies and structures that enable them to report any instances of sexual harassment that they encounter $^1$, fair wages $^2$, equal opportunities for promotion $^3$, and equitable treatment compared to their male colleagues.
Educate Yourself
"How come there is no Men's Day?" is the question we constantly hear every year on Women’s Day. This inquiry stems from a commonly held belief that Women's Day is part of a global scheme to establish female dominance. This popular notion is reinforced by numerous ill-informed men who are unaware of the underlying reasons for the establishment of Women's Day. Regrettably, men do not require a designated day to commemorate their achievements, as they already hold significant advantages in society. Men currently occupy 80% of managerial and decision-making positions$^4$, receive more research grants$^5$, pay less for their hygiene products$^6$, and are not required to take paternity leave, which could potentially impede their career advancement$^7$. Additionally, they are less likely to experience domestic violence in heterosexual relationships and are less likely to be victims of abuse$^8$. The question should be how come we only have one Women’s Day!
In essence, International Women's Day should serve as a reminder to organizations that while celebrating women's achievements is essential, it is even more crucial to actively support them in achieving new heights. Such support can take the form of establishing policies that empower women to report harassment, ensuring equal pay and opportunities for promotion, and investing in the female potential, ultimately leading to a more equitable and thriving workplace for all.