International Women’s Day

This article is for women. All women and especially those who care about women. Every year, on March 8th the world dedicates a day to celebrate women. What is the real significance of this day? The very fact that we must have it reminds us of all that we are still not living in an equal gender world.

We still live in a patriarchal world surrounded by all kinds of prejudice and unacceptable violence towards women in almost every culture in the world. However, as has happened since the beginning of time, the younger generations are starting to question old practices and biases women have been following for years. And more importantly, they are changing behaviors of what is considered “normal.”

Women in technology

As a woman working in technology for the last 30 years, this field has always been considered a career for men. Women like Pearl I. Young, the first woman hired as a technical employee, at the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NASA), or  Ada Lovelace who is widely recognized as the first woman computer programmer, had to fight a lot, for us to have our place in the tech industry today and they will always be an inspiration for all of us.

Can you imagine graduating as one of only 4 or 5 women in a class full of men? It happened to me in my Technical High School, college, even my MBA and the Latu Sensu degree. This never stopped my drive to continue to learn and grow in the industry, never. When you have passion for what you do, there are very few things that can make you change your mind.

Of course, there have been times when our intelligence and knowledge has been questioned. We’ve all heard jokes or comments when we do our jobs, just for being a woman. Multiple times, our ideas have been underestimated or dismissed, but when the same solution is presented by a man the answer is always right. Unfortunately, almost every woman knows what this feels like.

What does Sorority mean in feminism?

This refers to female sisterhood. It is when a woman supports another woman or group of women, without judgments, only helping, complicity or alliance between each other.

This year’s campaign for International Women’s Day is about breaking biases and we have joined the campaign, to create safe and equal spaces for all women in the industry, their homes, schools, and workplaces.

Imagine a gender-equal world.

• A world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination.
• A world that is diverse, equitable, and inclusive.
• A world where difference is valued and celebrated.
• Together we can forge women’s equality.
• Collectively we can all #BreakTheBias.

Over time we have learned to deal with this. We have adapted our ways of speaking and standing up for ourselves when there is an injustice or in a violent situation. We were taught to be quiet and accept whatever the world had done to us because that was what we were here for, cook, have kids, and stay at home. Now, we have learned to be confident, without losing our feminine essence.

Yes, we can use red lipsticks, have red nails, long hair, and high heels if we like and feel comfortable. The way we dress or use our makeup to feel beautiful does not prove that we are less capable or qualified for our jobs. We do not need to look like a man to be respected. And never, never lose our kind and soft way of treating people.

No matter what profession you choose, it must be something that makes you happy and strive for it every day. The world is changing, and all women can do anything they want. There is no one profession for a man or a woman. There is only the passion to do what we love.