Women empowerment

The Women’s Month celebration in the country officially ended yesterday but celebrating the achievement of women should be a year-long event.

According to the Philippine Commission on Women, the observance of International Women’s Day on March 8 each year was a result of the organizing activities of women in the early 20th century, or between 1909 and 1922, when working women in the US participated in organizing strike activities to protest low wages, lack of protective legislation, and the very poor working conditions to which women workers were subjected that time.

The demonstrations were an offshoot of the March 1911 factory fire in New York City which took the lives of more than 140 working girls, mostly Italian and Jewish immigrants.

In the Philippines, PCW noted that the Women’s Month celebration has since served as a venue to highlight women’s achievements and discuss continuing and emerging women’s empowerment and gender equality issues and concerns, challenges and commitments.

Last month’s celebration however marked a juncture in the advancement of women’s rights as it launches a new recurring theme from this year to 2028: WE (Women and Everyone for Empowerment) for gender equality and inclusive society.

Citing the Global Gender Gap Report, PCW said at the current rate of progress, with the global gender gap being closed by only 68.1 percent, it will take 132 years to reach gender equality worldwide, although this is already a marked improvement from the figure of 99.5 years in the 2020 report.

Gender equality basically means that people of all gender have equal rights, responsibilities and opportunities. It has been made part of international human rights law by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which was adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1948.

According to the United Nations, women and girls represent half of the world’s population and therefore, also half of its potential.

However, stark gender disparities remain in economic and political realms. On the average, the UN revealed that women in the labor market still earn 20 percent less than men globally. As of 2021, only 25 percent of all national parliamentarians were female, compared to 11.3 percent in 1995.

Then there’s violence against women.

The UN states that violence against women is a pandemic affecting all countries. Worldwide, 35 percent of women have experienced either physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence or non-partner sexual violence. This does not include economic and emotional abuse.

One way to achieve gender equality and eradicate gender bias is the promotion of gender-inclusive language, including in the Philippines.

This is because language plays a key role in shaping cultural and social attitudes. Gender-inclusive or gender-neutral language means speaking and writing in a way that does not discriminate against any particular sex, social gender or gender identity, and does not perpetuate gender stereotypes.

“Humankind” instead of “mankind,” “Firefighter” rather than “firemen,” “chairperson” instead of “chairman.”

Families, schools, and society in general also contribute to perpetuating gender stereotypes. For example, why should girls wear pink and receive dolls as toys while boys wear blue and get toy cars? Why should women be the one to take care of the children and clean the house while the men go to work? Why should a woman feel guilty when going to work and leaving the care of the children to the household men when the husbands do not share the same guilt?

If both the husband and the wife work, and that they be given the same opportunities, imagine the economic benefits that this will create?

Personally, I have huge respect for men who allow their wives to flourish, succeed and live their own lives.

I frown upon successful men, especially politicians, who relegate their spouses to secondary roles, like organizing parties, attending fashion shows and other high-society events, or worse, staying at home.

This is not to discriminate though against stay-home moms who choose that role, not because they were left with no choice. But even stay-home moms can contribute to the betterment of our society and economy. Many stay-homes moms are now working from home, thanks to the myriad of jobs that can be accomplished online, while taking care of the household. Working from home can also held the moms teach their children business skills early in life.

Speaking of strong women, when Sen. Koko Pimentel married Kathryna Yu, many thought she was just another pretty face, a trophy wife. They couldn’t haven’t been more wrong.

Kathryna is an accomplished woman in all ventures she has decided to enter into, whether it be business or social work.

She is the president of PDP Cares Foundation. Under her leadership, the organization expanded its initiatives to serve our brothers and sisters in Marawi affected by the siege and terrorism in 2017. When the COVID-19 pandemic struck in 2020 and nationwide lockdowns were implemented, she worked to lead PDP Cares Foundation into assisting students of several schools in Sorsogon, Cagayan de Oro and Marikina City, to name a few, by giving them electronic tablets that they can use for their online classes.

Kathryna is also a successful businesswoman. She co-owns Tiong Bahru Philippines, which they brought from Singapore to the Philippine shores, thus giving Filipinos the opportunity to taste world-class Singaporean food without having to go abroad. Tiong Bahru is a multi-Michelin Bib Gourmand awardee, having received this recognition from 2017 to 2022. This exclusive award is given by Michelin to restaurants which have been proven to give customers the best value for their money.

She also owns Alpina Lounge & Wellness, which provides beauty and wellness services for women using state-of-the-art technology. She also runs AquiLeyna’s Kitchen, an online bakery business with her children, specifically Akio.

Who knows? The time for her to shine even more brightly for everyone to see may just come one day.

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