Women Are Power

If you have seen any of my articles over the past few years, you will know my admiration for the brilliant women who have changed the world. During my lifetime, society has made significant strides in embracing equal rights – and the number of women making a difference is only increasing. I wholeheartedly believe that intellectual talent is gender-neutral, and there is no job a man can do that a woman can’t. This includes my own job, having just named my highly competent successor, Kerry Dryburgh.

Each year around International Women’s Day, I enjoy reflecting on the inspiring women of the past and present. This year, I have found myself being drawn to women of the past and three women in particular who have shaped the past and will shape the future. I hope you’ll forgive my nostalgia!

1911 was a memorable year. The Mona Lisa was stolen, the Titanic was constructed, and on the 19th of March, the first International Women’s Day was celebrated in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland. Over a million people marched that day campaigning for women’s rights to work, vote, be trained, hold public office, and to end the era of discrimination.

More than 100 years on, we can celebrate the progress made, but we still have further to go. We’ve sent both men and women to space, yet it seems easier for women to leave the atmosphere than to break the glass ceiling. And I’m not using hyperbole – it’s a fact: a higher percentage of women go to space than become CEOs. This leaves me wondering, have we really made much progress?

Let’s look at a brief history.

A timeline

1920 – Ratification of the 19th amendment to the US constitution which declared that the right to vote should not be denied based on sex.

1932 – Amelia Earhart became the first woman – and the second pilot ever – to fly solo nonstop across the Atlantic. In a letter to her husband later in life, she wrote: "women must try to do things as men have tried. When they fail, their failure must be a challenge to others”.

1945 – Following the devastation of World War II, the United Nations was formed. Its charter enshrined gender equality: “We the people…reaffirm faith…in the equal rights of men and women”.

1955 – Black seamstress Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat to a white man on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama. The move spurred the launch of the civil rights movement. She holds a place in history as an icon who fought for her race and sex.

1960 – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first commercially produced birth control pill in the world, allowing women to control when and if they have children. Margaret Sanger initially commissioned “the pill” with funding from heiress Katherine McCormick. Choice gives power.

1971 – Women in Switzerland finally gained the right to vote in federal elections. This fact is difficult to comprehend as Switzerland was one of the few countries that embraced International Women’s Day in 1911. Voting gives power.

1977 – The United Nations resolution first started to mark International Women’s Day on March 8th of every year. Visibility gives power.

1990s – The rise of the internet. Single mothers and disenfranchised teenage girls – who traditionally lacked resources – now have access to free educational tools, flexible sources of income, and more community. Autonomy gives power.

2005 – Angela Merkel’s election and eventual rise to become the most powerful woman in the world. The financial crisis gave a her a platform to become one of the most influential figures in the world. Power gives power.

2012 – Malala Yousafzai survives a bullet to the head from a Taliban gunman, who attempted to extinguish the threat this girl faced by fighting for the education of herself and her peers. Middle eastern women are emboldened. Education gives power.

2017 – Harvey Weinstein becomes the symbol of the “Me too” movement. Increased transparency unveils the dark corners of widespread female abuse. Transparency gives power.

2018 – The Notorious RBG (Ruth Bader Ginsburg) was recognized in two incredible films showing her lifelong struggle fighting for female equality. Her most memorable remark in the films should send a tingle through all our spines: “I ask no favor for my sex. All I ask of our Brethren is that they take their feet off our neck.” Justice gives Power.

2018 – Greta Thunberg rises as a global icon as she skips school to strike for climate change. As the world is impacted by Global Warming, the poorest among us will suffer the most. The fight for women’s rights are much harder in any society with limited resources or stability. Change gives Power.

2019 – Kylie Jenner’s expert use of social media propelled her to billionaire status. She becomes – not the youngest female billionaire in the world – but the youngest billionaire, period. Money gives power.

These events are indeed the exceptional exceptions and not the rule. We still have a way to go, a gender pay gap still exists globally and gender diversity at executive level is very low. Massive strides have been made but we are not finished.

This year I also want to acknowledge three women that have shaped the past and will most certainly shape the future.

UIrike Lunacek – Politician, human rights activist, icon of the LGBT community and a great swimmer!

Ulrike is a change maker. She is a member of the new Austrian government, comprised of 50% women and I consider her a dear friend. Throughout her career in politics, she has fought for human rights and a more just society. She is known for her campaigns on LGBT and stands out with what can only be described as “direct action”.

Once she even sent a rainbow scarf directly to Pope Francis as a reminder of women’s rights, same sex marriages and the use of contraceptives. Ulrike has fought for access to sex education for all, was heavily involved in the formation of Women's Refuge Innsbruck, and was a member of the Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality. I can only see her positive influence expanding in the coming years.

Estela Welldon – Pioneer in forensic psychotherapy, a feminist, a fashion icon and the perfect host.

I had the privilege of recently attending Estela’s Valentine’s Party, as Estela drank her red wine she remarked “dreams without memories are not possible”, a flippant statement that may stay with me my entire life. Estela’s memories are not limited to but include immense amounts of trauma. In an incredible display of character, she has turned that trauma into a platform that she uses to assist in breaking cycles of abuse with a focus on women. In 1990, Estela founded the first ever diploma course on forensic psychotherapy. Her life has become a dedication to supporting others; with true compassion and empathy. Her interview with Sigal Spiegel is a revelation and witness to her contribution to a fairer society.

Her book ‘Mother, Madonna, Whore’ looks at breaking destructive cycles and reclaiming female sexuality from the clutches of Freud’s own mummy issues and much more. Estela’s work looks to empower the downtrodden, create better mothers, women and people, and in doing so form a better society and world for us all. Estela, I adore you, that being said, I would like to remind you that I was promised an interview…

Christine Lagarde - President of the European Central Bank and former Managing Director of the IMF.

I don’t know Christine personally, but we are both AFS alumnus and spoke at the AFS centennial celebration held at the UNESCO headquarters in 2014. There are many attributes that I could highlight, so instead I will pick just one. It is her underrated and unwavering determination. I am inspired by her grit and unbelievable ability to make everything look so effortless. A true champion of change and a trailblazer for women around the globe. Always grounding her speeches and articles in facts, her last World Women’s day message leading the IMG ended with an undeniable statement:

"The IMF’s 189 member countries face many different challenges, but empowering women remains a common denominator and a global imperative for all those who care about fairness and diversity, but also productivity and growth of societies and economies that are more inclusive. If we can achieve this, WE ALL GAIN”.

Christine’s ability to appeal to both people’s humanity and if that fails their bottom line, shows her aptitude for mounting offensives on multiple fronts to achieve a desired goal.

Closing remarks

There is nothing left for me to say other than to ask you to join me by applauding these three amazing leaders who happen to be women. 

Those of us who take things for granted, please don’t. Those of us that feel the is job done, please don’t. Those of us who don’t learn from the past, please do.

Lastly, after some heavy reading I want to end on a humorous note, a quote made in jest by outspoken feminist Germaine Greer: "There are only two things that women don't do as well as men and that's design dresses and cook.”

Happy International Women’s Day :)