To know what the International Women’s Day mean depending on the origin of the speaker, we have interviewed some of the female members of our team in China, chinese and foreigners, to understand the different points of view, according to culture, society’s perspective, and the way the interviewed were raised, about this date and why is (or not), important.
What does the International Women Day mean to you?
“In my opinion, the importance of the women´s influence in the society is very underestimated. In many cases that´s reflected in salary and other kind of acknowledgements, usually jobs associated as “women jobs” or even housekeeping are thought to be less worthy or worse than other jobs.
During the International Women day, women of many countries streak for a whole day and don´t go to work, showing everyone what a big difference women make every day at their jobs and homes. Many of them even go to demonstrations: both to show pride for all what we have achieved so far in terms of equality and to protest for everything that remains to be achieved.”
Why is the Woman’s day important? Is this date relevant in your country?
“International women’s day is a celebration of struggle for equality, justice, and peace. In our country, during the women’s day. The women usually have a half day-off holiday. On this special day, the women can really realize that a woman’s value is not only giving birth to a child, doing endless housework, but also find her own status in the modern society. That is she can make a different, she can do everything that a man can do, when you look around, you will find that more and more woman are acting as scientists, doctors, lawyers even leaders. Just try to remember, woman rule half of the world, the life could quite different without their wisdom and beauty.”
Do you believe that gender equality is already a reality worldwide?
“I don’t believe gender equality is real all over the worldwide, such as in China, Africa, Japan, Asia. Females participate most work/housework in the society but actually face unfair treatment.”
Is the International Women Day very relevant in your country?
“In India, we do celebrate International National Women Day. The orphanage and some organizations working for social reforms, since long have been organizing significant awards programs in India over the past 10 years to celebrate the remarkable contributions women make to society. In this award ceremony, women are shortlisted from all over India for gender equality.
Via the program, they inspired hundreds of female attendees to become role models and they conveyed a strong message that success has nothing to do with gender.
It is important to change the mindsets of women as well as society. Therefore, they organize a unique theatrical workshop of dance ballet, lecture and skit based on the eye-opening life story of “Amrapali”, a woman who went from being an abandoned and unwanted child to an exceptionally talented dancer, a warrior and finally a spiritually empowered saint.
The dance ballet, “I’m a Woman, is it a Crime?” showcased the challenges a woman faces when trying to fulfil her dreams. It was both informative and interactive, enabling participants to relate meaningfully to the performance and be engaged. This was an impactful way of bringing the issues discussed closer to home.”
Who is your woman role model and why?
“For me Michelle Obama brings together the fundamental values in 21st century women such as firmness, perseverance, commitment, formation, and equality, and represents the woman who decides her life and her future freely. However, there is no need to resort to international figures to discover extraordinary women who serve as a model for us. We find them in our daily life in our nearest environment, at work, family, friends… women who fight and strive daily for the change towards a society of equality.”
If you´d have to make a recommendation to yourself, as a professional woman when you were younger, what would it be?
“Be loyal, earnest, quick-minded and insistence.”
Do you celebrate the International Women Day? Do you think it is still necessary to celebrate this day?
“Of course, it is still necessary to celebrate it. It was established on March 8 every year to celebrate women’s important contributions and great achievements in the economic, political and social fields. All of women should proud of it. It is our day.”
