International Women’s Day celebrates women’s achievements but the truth is they may still encounter many difficulties. Stephanie Fsadni asks the opinion of four women from different walks of life on the matter.
• Carmen Cocks
Age: 64
Occupation: Pensioner
What are, in your opinion, the main challenges facing women today?
Undoubtedly, women’s status has improved and progressed in the last years but I believe some challenges facing women today remain as daunting as they were years ago.
As a former social worker, I feel strongly about a number of issues:
• Developing individualised tools to support the path that will bring greater fulfilment, a sense of purpose and success in whatever endeavours a woman thinks are most important in her life;
• Honouring one’s authentic self which is fundamental to personal empowerment and the ability to build healthy relationships, both personal and professional;
• Combating the influence of discerning messages received through parents, peers, media and society in general, which often results in a denial of self, in favour of becoming the person everyone else wants and needs women to be;
• Depictions of women that still emphasise sexuality and stereotypical femininity;
• Reduction in sexual harassment;
• The degree of flexibility in household and domestic arrangements;
• Good provisions for the care of children;
• Chances for meaningful work, equal pay and opportunities for promotions;
• The extent to which women hold authority or positions of leadership.
Which issues concern you most?
There is a great threat of financial hardship in retirement as years go by.
The ability to maintain a reasonable lifestyle in retirement, the ability to pay for adequate healthcare and a retirement income that is enough in keeping up with inflation, are issues of great personal concern.
Do you think marking International Women’s Day is still relevant today? Why?
It’s a great occasion to commemorate women’s accomplishments, it’s a special celebration of women’s economic, political and social achievements.
Yes, I believe that celebrating International Women’s Day is still relevant today. Despite the progress, there’s still a long way to go.
Every overcome challenge deserves a celebration – women rightly commemorate this on March 8 every year, in preparation of next year’s accomplishments.
• Sharon Pulis
Age: 38
Occupation: Full-time mum
What are in your opinion the main challenges facing women today?
I think that one of the major challenges facing women today is striking the right balance between work, self and family. Women are occupying key positions in almost every field of society.
However, society expects women to look their best, take care of their children, the house and work hard at their job. Today, women are considered ‘superwomen’ and are expected to fulfil this role well.
Which issues concern you most?
Society is projecting an image of female perfection. This in turn is influencing girls’ expectations of what a woman should be and look like, leading females, mothers and daughters to never be satisfied with themselves. I think young women should concentrate more on their inner self rather than their image.
Do you think marking International Women’s Day is still relevant today? Why?
Definitely. Women should be encouraged to do whatever it takes to succeed and no one should be able to influence us to think otherwise. Women have fought hard for equal opportunities and every little girl should be encouraged to continue to fight for her rights.
• Isabelle Cassar
Age: 18
Occupation: Law student
What are in your opinion the main challenges facing women today?
The main challenges women encounter in their everyday life more often than not are the product of media.
The constant portrayal of women as the weaker sex tends to take its toll on female achievement. Despite living in modern times, equality in all fields of life is still beyond reach.
What issues concern you most?
Personally, I would say that I have first-hand experience when it comes to the division in academic subjects.
Most tend to choose a course depending on their sex, which limits the career choice.
This is the end result of the division of domestic labour which sways towards women, thus limiting women’s careers to more protected environments.
Do you think marking International Women’s Day is still relevant today? Why?
Marking International Women’s Day is of importance even to this day.
Since the early 1900s it has been celebrated as the union of women standing up for their own rights and protesting against the social injustice they experienced.
Nowadays, it serves to honour women and girls from all over the world while bringing to attention the several issues affecting our lives.
• Marie Briguglio
Age: 43
Occupation: Academic and screenwriter
What are in your opinion the main challenges facing women today?
It very much depends on which women and where. In some parts of the world, some women are facing issues of basic access to education; in others, it’s more subtle and it’s about the way the media portrays women or glass ceiling issues.
Many issues women face are shared across genders – stress, environmental degradation, unemployment, etc.
Which issues concern you most?
The unnecessary lack of flexibility of hours (or workplace) which if addressed would allow many women/mothers – and indeed men/fathers – to have a richer, better life that combines both rather than all of one or all of the other.
It is not something that affects me personally, but it is something that I think is unnecessarily suppressing many talented women from joining the workforce and a lot of men from enjoying fatherhood.
Do you think marking International Women’s Day is still relevant today? Why?
It’s an opportunity to stop and think about these issues. But it risks enclaving the issues to just one day or even being seen as patronising to women. Perhaps we need to talk about Gender Day so we can consider more broadly the roles, behaviours, activities and attributes we consider appropriate for men and women.