In 1971, President Nixon once said “I’m not for women in any job. I don’t want any of them around. Thank God we don’t have any in the cabinet … I don’t think a woman should be in any government job whatever. I mean, I really don’t. The reason why I do is mainly because they are erratic. And emotional. Men are erratic and emotional, too, but the point is a woman is more likely to be.”
From those early days of the suffragettes right on through to our current generation of young women, the world has shown great change. Treatment of women however often varies from country to country. In many countries, women still need permission from their husbands to work outside of the home. Globally, there is still a large gap in gender pay to say nothing of the lack of women politicians. Women do two-thirds of the world’s work but receive only 10% of the world’s income and own less than 1% of land.
According to InternationalWomensDay.com:
- Females in developing countries on average carry 20 litres of water per day over 6 km
- Globally women account for the majority of people aged over 60 and over 80
- Pregnant women in Africa are 180 times more likely to die than in Western Europe
- 530,000 women die in pregnancy or childbirth each year
- World population hit 6,872,741,131 on 1 January 2009
- Of 1.2 billion people living in poverty worldwide, 70% are women
- 80% of the world’s 27 million refugees are women
- Women own around only 1% of the world’s land
- AIDS sees women’s life expectancy of 43 in Uganda and Zambia
- 5 people are added to the world’s population every 2 seconds
- Women are 2/3 of the 1 billion+ illiterate adults who have no access to basic education
- Women do two-thirds of the world’s work but receive only 10% of the world’s income
- Women’s education is the most powerful predictor of lower fertility rates
- One year out of college women earn 20% less than men and 10 years later 31% less
- Women on average are away from workforce for 14.7 years compared to 1.6 years for men
Every year, on March 8 thousands of events are held around the world to celebrate and honor women and our achievements – rallies, business conferences, government activities and networking events through to local women’s craft markets, theatrical performances, fashion parades and more. What’s happening in your neighborhood?
International Women’s Day is now an official holiday in China, Armenia, Russia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Vietnam. In some countries the day is celebrated much as we here in the US celebrate Mother’s Day, with small gifts, cards and flowers. While the US does not have an official holiday, we have designated the month of March as ‘Women’s History Month’.
If you start to change women’s lives, there is a virtuous cycle that begins to improve everything else. I am more convinced than ever that the more women hear stories about other women, the more they will step up and help other women. ~Shelia C. Johnson, Global Ambassador for CARE International
Today (Thursday, March 5th), in support of International Women’s Day, “A Powerful Noise” will be shown simultaneously in 450 theaters across America. This is more than just a film – it is a catalyst for change and a compelling reminder that the solution to global poverty and injustice lies in the ability of women and girls to have a voice in their societies. It will be followed by a panel discussion with leading thinkers on women and poverty.
“A Powerful Noise” Live is presented by CARE, ONE and NCM Fathom during the U.N. Commission on the Status of Women. Tickets went on sale January 30th. Click here for participating theatres and ticket information. Join your voice with thousands of others at this event and together our message that “women are the solution” will be heard loud and far. At www.apowerfulnoise.org, you can find ways to join the effort to empower women, as an advocate, as a volunteer, or simply through public displays of support.
Photo by jrbragg
