Monday, March 8, 2021

Women's Day: What is commemorated and why COVID-19 widened the inequality gap

 



For more than a century, people around the world have marked March 8 as a special day for women. Officially recognized by the United Nations in 1975,International Women's Day first emerged from the activities of labor movements in the early 20th century in North America and throughout Europe.

According to the UN, this day "refers to ordinary women as the architect of history and sinks its roots in women's multi-sectional struggle to participate in society on an equal footing with men."

Its seeds were planted in 1908, when 15,000 women marched through New York City demanding shorter working days, better wages and voting rights. It was the Socialist Party of America that declared the first National Women's Day, a year later.

The idea of making the day international came from a woman named Clara Zetkin. She suggested the idea in 1910 at an International Conference of Women Workers in Copenhagen, Denmark. The 100 women who were there, from 17 countries, agreed with their suggestion unanimously.

It was first held in 1911, in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland. The centenary was celebrated in 2011, so this year, technically, we are commemorating the 110th International Women's Day, a date that sums up the struggle that for decades carried out by thousands of workers around the world who proclaimed recognition of their rights.

Las restricciones legales han impedido que 2.700 millones de mujeres accedan a las mismas opciones de trabajo que los hombres (Europa Press)
Legal restrictions have prevented 2.7 billion women from accessing the same work options as men (Europa Press)

The women of the world want and deserve an egalitarian future without stigma, stereotypes or violence; a future that is sustainable, peaceful, with equal rights and opportunities for all people. In order to achieve this goal, the world needs women at every decision-making table.

With the full and effective participation and leadership of women in all walks of life, progress is achieved for everyone. However, women still do not have sufficient representation in public life and decision-making, as reflected in the recent report of the Secretary-General of the United Nations. Women are heads of state or government in 22 countries, and only 24.9% of national parliamentarians are women. At the current pace of progress, gender equality between heads of government will take another 130 years.

"International Women's Day is a time to reflect on the progress made, call for change and celebrate the acts of courage and determination of ordinary women, who have played an extraordinary role in the history of their countries and communities," reads a statement on the United Nations website.

The world has made unprecedented progress, but no country has achieved gender equality. 50 years ago we landed on the moon; over the past decade, we discovered new human ancestors and photographed a black hole for the first time. Meanwhile, legal restrictions have prevented 2.7 billion women from accessing the same work options as men. In 2019, less than 25% of MPs were women. And yet, one in three women experience gender-based violence.

A pesar de que las mujeres constituyen la mayoría de los trabajadores de primera línea, existe una representación desproporcionada e inadecuada de mujeres en los espacios de políticas nacionales y globales de COVID-19 (REUTERS)
Although women make up the majority of frontline workers, there is a disproportionate and inadequate representation of women in the national and global policy spaces of COVID-19 (REUTERS)

For an egalitarian future in the world of COVID-19

Women are at the forefront of the COVID-19 crisis, as health workers, caregivers, insothes, community organizers and as some of the most exemplary and effective national leaders in the fight against the pandemic; however, they earn 11% less globally compared to their male counterparts.

The crisis has highlighted both the centrality of their contributions and the disproportionate burdens faced by women. This year's theme for International Women's Day, according to the United Nations, "Leading Women: For an Egalitarian Future in the WORLD of COVID-19," celebrates the tremendous efforts of women and girls around the world to shape a more equitable future and the recovery of the COVID-19 pandemic.

When women are in charge, positive results are observed. Several of the most efficient and exemplary responses to the pandemic have been led by women. And women, especially young women, are the ones who organize diverse and inclusive movements online and on the street for social justice and equality or the fight against climate change everywhere in the world. However, women under the age of 30 account for less than 1% of MPs worldwide.

The pandemic especially revolutionized households where workers had to take care of their work tasks, as well as boys and household chores. As part of International Women's Day, Adecco Argentina, a subsidiary of the world's leading human resources consulting company, conducted an analysis of the current situation of women in the labour market. To this end, he used various studies carried out before and during the pandemic.

La mayoría de los cuidadores, en el hogar y en nuestras comunidades, también son mujeres (AP)
Most caregivers, at home and in our communities, are also women (AP)

Some of the results compiled by the company in recent months revealed that for more than 70% of respondents there is still a significant (equal position) pay gap between men and women. With regard to the pursuit of equality of work, more than half argue that the Government should work together to achieve it. On the other hand, more than 70% of respondents assured you that companies lack containment protocols for those suffering from family violence.

With regard to managerial positions, 55% noted that there is inequality in them in favor of men. In the same line, 70% said women have more difficulty accessing an executive position than men. This is where the "glass ceiling" appears, an invisible obstacle (not recorded in laws or codes) that prevents women from advancing to occupy the highest hierarchical positions and whose result is the low presence of women in the highest positions of the occupational pyramid.

Some data

Nearly 60% of women around the world work in the informal economy, earn less, save less and are at greater risk of falling into poverty.

Women earn 23% less than men worldwide.

Women hold only 24% of parliamentary seats worldwide.

One in three women have experienced physical or sexual violence and 200 million female girls have undergone genital mutilation.


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