women, Women…..WOMEN!

The world needs more women – to do, to be, to act. To be present and respected. So how are we getting on with that?

I started my day with a conversation with a man located on the other side of the planet, who I met online through a new initative to connect people around the globe. The objective of the network is to forward an expanded sense of respect for our differences, to help individuals and organizations take personal accountability for their Impact on the world. I was approached to join and have now participated in a few sessions. Through these interactions, I have talked and shared with people from every continent in just over one week. 

The focus on women in this network is prominent and aimed at providing a social impact platform to empower women to step up, to share what is actually happening in their lives, form alliances and support each other. Women are often closer to what we in this world call the smaller things, the everyday machinations of our existence; the living and breathing of food, of caring and supports on the human-to-human level. And this work is and never have been valued to its full extent. 

In a world where money, the reward for performance, IS the value by which all is measured, and to perform work that is by its very existence not valued in money but in feelings and experiences, it is destined that women in their current status will lose out. Women are told that the work that they do, the building of humanity, is the most valued work of all. But the renumeration for this work is not given in a value that enhance women’s life; we cannot pay rent or purchase food with the feeling of knowing that it was the right thing to do to care for a parent, or a child. It is not valued that we care for the sick, when instead caring for the value of money is valued incalculably more. 

In an industry that is dedicated to caring about humanity, for the betterment of people, when this emotional work is not valued equally, where will the world go? If women stop this work, who will do it? Will anyone pay for it? 

Yes, it is the International Women’s Day today. A travesty for women who live in poverty, who experience violence, abuse and discrimination, and perform jobs that don’t pay anywhere near its value to humanity. One day, will we recognize the worth and work of women to its rightful value? For my maternal ancestors, for my daughters, for the daughters that I have not seen or yet met, I hope so. Until then, let’s celebrate women and that every day is women’s day. 

Photo: Matt Lee by Unsplash