We all have the power to bring others with us on the path to equality

We have come a long way since the first Women’s Day in 1911 demanded the right to vote and hold public office, and it’s been a long time since we’ve seen such a public debate about the rights of women and workplace equality.

The world is not yet post-#MeToo or #TimesUp, but the strength of these movements doesn’t look like abating. This extraordinary movement is both necessary and overdue, forcing difficult conversations about the chasm between theories of legally mandated equality and the practical, lived experience of women. But we also cannot forget the privilege of the predominantly white women from developed countries speaking out.

Despite the gender pay gap, the disparity in political and board-level representation and horrific rates of gender-based violence, we are starting to see a growing awareness of these issues. The backlash against sexual misconduct has been swift and ruthless, and the public outrage about pay disparities is increasing. There is an emerging acknowledgement that behaviour is enabled by social structures, and they themselves must be the target of change.

But we cannot let progress for some come at the cost of continued exploitation, disempowerment or inequality for others. Oscar-winning actor Octavia Spencer recently told the Hollywood Foreign Press Association’s “Women Breaking Barriers” panel at the Sundance Film Festival that women of colour can be overlooked even as white women move – if at a glacial pace – towards pay parity.


Source: theguardian