Women Supporting Women. A Wave of Change!

Women Supporting Women. A Wave of Change!

Supporting women is a topic that is top of mind and close to my heart.  I am often trying to look for ways to support women in all areas, safety, economically, empowerment, creativity, growth and the fundamental right to show up just exactly just as they are. Because I truly believe when you support a women you support whole communities and all the people that surround her.  In fact its not just a belief anymore, it’s a fact.
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women lift up everyone around them

• When women have control over finances or productive assets their children's nutrition, health and school attendance are improved.  They are more likely to invest the money back into the family and communities than men ,and are more likely to pull themselves out of poverty via the management of these assets.
• Even with just a few years of primary education women are more likely to have fewer and healthier children, better economic prospects and their children have a better chance of attending school themselves. (OECD)
• “As women gain rights, families flourish, and so do societies. That connection is built on a simple truth: Whenever you include a group that's been excluded, you benefit everyone. And when you're working globally to include women and girls, who are half of every population, you're working to benefit all members of every community. Gender equity lifts everyone. Women's rights and society's health and wealth rise together.”― Melinda Gates
• Equality for women it turns out is also good for the bottom line.  Businesses benefit by employing and offering leadership roles for women as its shown to increase the organizational effectiveness and growth.  In fact, if you have 3 or more women in senior leadership roles, it is estimated that your company scores higher on all performance indicators. (UN Women)

There's a long road ahead of us

It always amazes me that when you support women you really are lifting everyone up, all genders benefit; now that is how you make the world a better place.  But even considering the clear case to fight for equality the statistics suggest that we still have quite a journey ahead of us:

• Women make up 50% of the population but only account for 25% of the leadership roles.
• Women are 24% more likely to lose their job compared to a man, and can expect their income to fall 50% more than men's.
• 1 in 3 women have experienced violence in their lives.

• 45% of women do not have control over the decisions concerning their sexual and reproductive health.

• 47 million women live below the poverty line because of the pandemic.

• Women bear more of the unpaid work and familial duties than men and they are still paid less at work with women only earning 77% of the wage that men earn

Those statistics are shocking and hard to swallow! COVID has brought to the forefront the existing inequality that remains and been hidden from the mainstream. At the same time unfortunately, it has exasperated the gap even further.  Are you interested in finding out how much of the balance of the work load you carry in your household? Once you know, you a measurable indicator to at least approach the topic of re-balancing more equally the responsibilities.  Check out the "Unpaid Care Calculator" created by the UN for Women and find out where your role falls on the workload scale.

Its clear that something needs to be done, and that as women, we need to support other women, and lift each other up all around the world if we want to see real and lasting change.  But this is where I always get stuck, what can I do?  What can we do to help?  
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GENERATION EQUALITY FORUM 

What can YOU do?

• Join the Generation Equality Forum - Join virtually on March 29 - 31st
• Spread the word & bring attention to the issue
• Write to your government or organization (With an example letter)
• Join the conversation on public platforms
• Take the Unpaid Care Calculator and re-balance the roles at home
• Donate to a women's organization
• Education yourself

You can do all of the above by heading over to Generation Equality Forum Webpage HERE.

​Women are 50% of the population, if each one of us does nothing but speak up and support each other, we would create a momentum; a tidal wave of change with a force that could not be withstood that would demand change, as the wave breaks where water meets land, and women support women!!

Let me know down in the comments how you will be supporting the gender equality movement for your future, for our future. 

Let's come together for the right to…

Design YOUR Life ~ Be Authentic.  Be You.  Be Sharp

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Sources: 

• OECD. Better Policies for Better Lives. Investing in women and girls. 
  
  • ​Investing in women and girls - OECD
• Un Women. Facts and Figures: Economic Empowerment. July 2018.
  •  Facts and Figures: Economic Empowerment | UN Women – Headquarters
• Generation Equality Forum. Generation Equality Forum: A Once in a Generation Opportunity.   
  • Act for Equal | Generation Equality Forum ​