It is discriminatory to describe women by their looks and not by what they stand for, the President told schoolgirls on Thursday, urging them to challenge patriarchy from a young age.
“We are often described not for what we say but for what we look like. This is discriminatory as it never happens to men.
“If a woman is assertive, she is often described as aggressive. If a woman is passionate, she is labelled emotional,” President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca said on International Women’s Day.
Commenting that it was “very unfair” to describe women for their looks and not what they stood for, she called for greater support between women.
The President urged students to “seriously” consider networking – something that men have had since “time immemorial”.
While Ms Coleiro Preca augured that they enjoyed Women’s Day, she insisted that visibility for women was a daily necessity.
She asked the students to make an effort and become activists for equality, speak up against gender-based violence and decrease the female deficit in Parliament.
But on this day, we also need to think of those girls and women fleeing conflict or living in extreme poverty, she told some 700 students from 13 schools who participated in a Q&A session together with the Countess of Wessex during a careers’ event organised by Business and Professional Women Malta.
Quoting research, Ms Coleiro Preca said that if the same pace was kept in terms of journey for equality, it would take 170 years to bring parity on a global level.
“I’m not even prepared to wait for a year as I have been speaking like this for a lifetime,” she added.
Asked what piece of advice they would give their younger selves, the Countess of Wessex told the students to keep their options open and willing to explore every opportunity that comes their way.
“If this requires some change in your life, don’t be afraid. Change can be a good thing.”
Meanwhile, when asked if young girls were free to achieve their goals, or still affected by gender stereotypes, the President told them to be brave and fight the patriarchal mentality.
“Women have access to practically all professions but it is more difficult for them to get the proper promotions, so we still need a cultural change,” Ms Coleiro Preca said.
“Please remember – women’s rights are human rights. If our rights are not safeguarded there is one huge important thing missing in our society. We have to stand up for human rights.”