Women Hold Up Half The Sky

The 1995 confab was not only focused on critical areas surrounding the cause of women on empowerment and gender equality. Major matters that eventually moved to action some 189 member-economies of the UN led to the were on women on poverty, health, their education and training, and violence against them, among others.

The first global discussions on the plight of women was in Mexico in 1975, followed by Copenhagen in 1980, and in Nairobi in 1985. Beijing came 10 years after.

These international conferences were initiated by the UN's Commission on the Status of Women, an intergovernmental body promoting the gender equality and their rights. The CSC was actually established in 1946 documenting "the reality of women's lives ..." but little action was made since.

The 1995 conference marked a significant turning point reflected in the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action that was adopted for policy-making worldwide.

Half Of The Blue?

And because the UN confab was held in China, Mao Zedong's quote, "Women Hold Up Half The Sky," was the popular byword.

The late communist leader was said to have tried to make it appear before the international scene that gender equality truly existed in what was known then as "Red China."

This prevailing statement uttered by Mao during China's cultural revolution affirmed that what Chinese men could do in their daily life and tasks, Chinese women can, too. That was to dispute notions deeply-rooted in Mainland China's culture that men were more superior that women.

While women started occupying significant government positions under the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), it was a fact that men remained the head honchos and no woman, at that time, held positions equal to theirs.

On paper, the CCP clearly stipulated "women enjoy equal rights with men in political, economic, cultural, education, and social life."

Except for Vice Premier Sun Chunlan, who served until 2023, the Mao maxim was not translated into major party status for women. The administration of President Xi Jinping obviously left out women in his inner sanctum.

Share Of The Sky

It could well be that Mao Zedong meant that women have their "share of the sky" with men as partners but not as country leaders with the consideration that women could offer service to the country in ways other than a place in the Politboro.

Indeed, there are countries where many decision and lawmakers are women, working side by side with male counterparts.

Other than in the world of politics, competent women still face the challenge of acceptability in the community, workplace and among peers — and, oftentimes, own family.

Among those who remain at home as housewife and mother, are treated as "babae lang 'yan" or "babae naman 'yan" ... ? Do they have their own share of the sky?

The Abused, The Advantaged

"Speak Up!" is a phrase often said if someone is abused or violated. But do majority of women have the power to?

In the workplace, women who complain of sexual harassment — formally or just within the office — are most likely to be condemned or ostracized or both. This incident is difficult to prove unless there is a CCTV footage as evidence. Sadly, the company has the general tendency to side with the superior-harasser who has the undue advantage from the start.

There exist labor groups and non-governmental organizations who offer to fight for women in this circumstance. How long will time be on her side? Should she pursue, no employer will take her. She needs the paycheck to survive! This is one of the reasons why sexual harassment cases do not prosper at all and justice is never achieved.

Across the globe, while it is a fact that billions in this generation choose to stand for what is right and clamor for equality, all they can say is speak up, take a stand, mobilize, and take action. But how?

Power Of Social Media

#GenerationEquality is a hashtag that protects women. This was coined and created by the Joint Action Group for Gender Equality as an avenue for the prevalent setback women encounter.

The group acknowledges that there is not enough awareness and information available to women when gender-related snags are presented.

Since majority use social media to communicate advocacies or just about anything, messages and problems can be posted here.

The Internet offers access to information — or disinformation where many portals and channels even romanticize sexual violence and abuses.

With the influence of social media, with proper use and responsibility, messages concerning abuses and violation against women — and girls — could reach far and wide.

(email opinyon.luchie@gmail.com or luchiearguelles@yahoo.com)

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