The International Women’s Day: Pride or problem?
March 8th – A great date for women around the world or a date that fixes the problem? – That was my first thought about the International Women’s Day. Since I had very conflicting feelings about this day, I decided to explore the issue. First I read a book about “The most influent women in the history of the world”. And while I was leafing through the book I was filled with great pride – a pride that I wanted to share with other women. So I invited all women in the office and raised the question “pride or problem”?
The invitation addressed all women for a “woman only” breakfast. We started the day with a presentation about five great women from different areas: Harriet Beecher Stowe who wrote “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” that was published in 1852 and put the slavery issue in the spot light; the book became the Number 2 bestseller book in the 19th century after the bible. From the USA we traveled to Great Britain to hear about Florence Nightingale that instead of learning cooking and home economics learned statistics and over the years developed the nursing field to a solid, hard and evident profession. From there, straight to Australia where Helena Rubinstein mixed her first facial cream and from scratch built an empire of cosmetics that manufactures in five continents, however she still brought her lunch from home…
And from all this beauty to the horrors of World War II where Margaret Bourke-White was the first female military photographer of the US army, and the first foreign journalists that was allowed to enter the Soviet Union. And, last but not least, Ruth Arnon, an Israeli chemist that gave hope and cure for millions around the world by developing the “Copaxon”, a medicine that treats Multiple Sclerosis, a chronic disease of the nervous system affecting the proper functioning of nerve cells in the nervous system. After the presentation we asked everyone for their feelings. Of course there was a very stormy discussion, an eruption of emotions that showed once again the complexity of the issue.
After all this inspiration I looked around, and I’m pretty sure I saw the spark. That moment I knew the International Women’s Day is right. And Important. And does not fix the problem but emphasis the role of women in the history of mankind. We should learn from those women, to never think small, never be afraid of what people might say, and to pursue our dreams. We are proud to reconcile meaningful careers with family and social life. I personally wouldn’t want it any other way.
For a great finale I asked each one to put one promise to herself for this year in an envelope. We are planning to share back the personal promises at the end of the year – Let’s see if dreams do come true…
One Comment
We should celebrate Women’s success stories but for being a success story not because it was done by a Woman, as we should celebrate and be proud of any other success story.
I still believe that a need for a diversity blog and diversity slides in company presentations are still quit sad because it means that even in a modern company and a modern world nothing had really changed.
I will be satisfied when the number of women managers in high positions will not be felt like it should be celebrated in yearly company summations because it would be a non-issue. Then I would really be proud.