International Women’s Day brings another reason to celebrate, reflect and look ahead with great pride at our great leaders in history and also possibilities ahead. Not only for equality of sexes after centuries of trying, but what has and can yet be achieved.
If the world at large was asked to name famous women who changed the world over two thousand years ago, it would be a safe assumption to say that few could recognise many other names than perhaps Cleopatra of ancient Egypt, or even Boudicca; who both became legendary for battling the Romans in their ages of dominance.
While the story (and some would say the “battle”) is not nearly complete yet; in what has ever-been a male-dominated world in civilised society – the last two hundred years has seen the balance of equality crawl – not jump – towards parity of gender. Even in the past hundred years, history now has begun telling a different story as schools now hail the hushed heroines of days gone by. This also goes in partnership with how events like the Second World War forced giants out of women. With the soldiers away from home at the brutal and technical end of the war, it was a monumental time for the western world and one which should not be underrated, as the effort and burden of keeping nations alive fell on the strong shoulders of our ladies.
Surely we should not be surprised by this. In remaining Amazon tribes, it is often found that the females are the leaders and as we would say in English; they “wear the trousers” and have done for the majority of their history. This would include not just child-rearing but also advising the men of the tribe how to live.
Along the world’s timeline, empires have produced women who have changed the world. As it would be with male rulers – not everyone agrees with them, but they have changed how we live, nevertheless. Leaders such as Eleanor of Aquitaine (France), Queen Elizabeth I (Great Britain), Catherine the Great (Russia) in the past – right up to more modern women such as Florence Nightingale, Marie Curie, Emmeline Pankhurst, Rosa Parks, Mother Teresa and Malala Yousafzai; without these people, the planet would not resemble earth as we know it.
So as internationalwomensday.com pushes and urges, their hashtag in 2016 is #PledgeForParity. Sport has, in fact opened huge opportunities in recent times. Millions were thrilled by the FIFA Women’s World Cup of football in the last twelve months. Politics cannot be viewed this year without Angela Merkel, Michelle Obama or Hilary Clinton’s presence.
We would hope the first female US President is not too far away. Perhaps it’s as simple as a single mother who inspires her children to greatness. Parity and respect are elements which by now should be unthinkable, automatic factors of our daily lives between the sexes, so we should enjoy this year’s International Women’s Day with pride.