On 8th March 2022, this year's International Women's Day's theme was "Break the bias". Images of women across the world circulated the internet in celebration of the strength and persistence of women in making changes and raising above limitations imposed by society, work places, households, etc. With the symbol of the hands over another to signify the barriers broken and women’s achievements, lots of individuals actively performed the action and constantly repeated - “Break the bias”, in hope of gender equality and eradication of limitations.
An amazing intention in celebrating women, but again, why are there barriers? The world acknowledges that there are hindrances towards a woman regardless of where she steps, the difficulties of trying to measure up, to get justice, to be a part of something beautiful without being discriminated against. Some women have argued that as beautiful as it seems to break biases, it would be beautiful if they weren’t any. Barriers such as pressure of marriage, low earnings because of gender, restrictions in taking up space within the political sphere, inability to choose a career field, all because you are female. The bias could go on and on. Some women agreed that any bias broken is worth celebrating. Two women in Lagos, Nigeria actively shared their thoughts on ‘BREAKINGTHEBIAS’.
Morenikeji Akinnusi; A Native Nigeria Language - (Yoruba) - translator says “As much as I have never had competitions at my place of work because of my gender, I really don’t appreciate that other women are paid lower than they deserve, just because they are women”, it’s easier to just be fair to everyone.
Morenekeji agreed that instead of celebrating the broken bias, it is only fair to eliminate them. Raise the pay of the woman in your organization so that predecessors would not have to worry about that. Of course, put into consideration her duty and responsibilities, be rational about it. This is not a pity-ask.
Morenikeji goes on to say ‘The craziest part of my life has been that a woman had to be when I decided to be independent, my culture doesn’t allow you to be on your own even at age 25 unless you are married’. That’s another barrier worth eliminating. Attaching a woman’s worth to where she stays or who she stays with. I just want my privacy; I am not about start prostitution like my society thinks. A proper theme would have been EXECUTE THE THOUGHTS YOU HAVE ABOUT A WOMAN, even though it looks so long.
Tosin Okeowo; A female mechanical engineer in Lagos, Nigeria goes on to say, “it’s just so much to overcome, marriage, work, raising a child, it’s just a lot”.
Tosin’s difficulty was being discriminated against as a female mechanic during her skill learning stage. The man whose job was teaching me really considered me a ‘FEMALE’, who was not going to do anything productive with the skill because she’d end up getting married. I had to learn by running after other employees to see what they are up to, picking and handling them tools, all through the years of my apprenticeship.
The occasion caused some people to argue about how much women are celebrated in a year, with holidays ranging from Mother’s Day to international women’s day to girl child day. It’s fair to say since there are so many limitations attached to a woman, let society go on to celebrate them breaking the bias instead of eliminating the walls and boundaries. Perhaps, the more women we have breaking down walls, more doors will open for the women of the future. But, why wait for all the fights and efforts, why not just make suitable laws and agendas that don't limit women to kitchens, bedrooms and childbearing?
Women are made to marry early, are criticized for a blooming career, you should be in your husband’s house, society would say. There’s just so many barriers for a woman to break.
Take for instance, female genital Mutilation practiced in 30 countries in western, eastern, and north-eastern Africa, in parts of the Middle East and Asia, and within some immigrant communities in Europe, North America and Australia. That’s a barrier worth getting rid of.
Child marriage is still very common and Gender based violence targeted towards women. Not to say it’s not beautiful that women are celebrated, but when you think to say “break the bias”, think about a barrier you can move out of the way for a woman.
Next time, instead of just symbolizing the breaking, mention an active way you have successfully eradicated a bias and be honest about it, don’t do it for the gram. And if there is any barrier worth broken, it is the mental barrier of what you think about anytime you are close to a woman.
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