Minding the Gap
“A feminist is anyone who recognizes the equality and full humanity of women and men.” Gloria Steinem
Men and women are described as the “two wings of a bird”. Needless to say, to be able to fly, a bird needs both its wings to be strong and working well together. How then do we humans manage to create a divide in the way we empower one and not the other. It was as a result of the years of injustice and subjugation that the twentieth century saw the rise of the “feminist”. But, they had a point to prove, they had a journey to initiate. As a result of the tireless efforts of various women’s organistions, today, inspite of everything else that goes on, the value of women is undeniable. More and more countries now agree that for sustainable development they cannot continue to focus on the development of just half the population. Sustainable development needs to empower the woman - socially, politically, financially, educationally and in any other way possible, as she in turn empowers a whole new generation.
“In the nineteenth century, the central moral challenge was slavery. In the twentieth century, it was the battle against totalitarianism. We believe that in this century the paramount moral challenge will be the struggle for gender equality around the world.” Nicholas D. Kristof, Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide.
Towards this in 1995, in Beijing, a milestone was achieved at the Fourth World Conference on Women that committed to achieving gender equality by removing the obstacles that limit women's involvement in public and private life and prevented them from an equal share in decision-making. As we move towards the twentieth anniversary of the Beijing declaration in 2015, countries across the world are revisiting the progress they have made in this direction.
It is then a matter of pride that New Zealand ranks consistently high in respect of gender equality and is placed seventh out of 136 countries on the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Index 2013.
Major achievements in the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women in New Zealand since the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action in 1995 include: efforts to address the high rates of violence against women and girls, addressing barriers to women’s participation in employment, women holding high profile leadership and decision-making positions.
Violence within families affects the lives of thousands of people in New Zealand. Victims of the most severe cases of family violence including homicides, are predominantly women and children. Reducing violence within families and minimising its impact on women and children are long-standing priorities for New Zealand. Many developments in terms of legislative changes, introduction of Police safety orders, several campaigns and task forces have been put in place. Much needs to be done however to address the root of anger and violence.
Addressing barriers to women’s participation in employment, amendments to employment relations legislation and funding for early childhood education in the last decade have improved working conditions and employment outcomes for women. Many other strides have been made including the growing discussions on paid parental leave.
New Zealand has a proud and growing history of women holding high-profile leadership and decision-making positions including two women. Prime Ministers: Dame Jenny Shipley and Helen Clark. We have had two women Governors-General: Dame Catherine Tizard and Dame Silvia Cartwright.
The current Chief Justice of New Zealand is Dame Sian Elias. Within Government, 34 percent of our Members of Parliament are women. A number of conflict resolution and peace-building decision-making positions are currently held by women including the Minister of Justice, the Minister of Police, the Secretary of Defence (Chief Executive of the New Zealand Ministry of Defence), the Divisional Manager, International Security and Disarmament Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (lead civilian on international security issues), and the Director of Defence Intelligence (New Zealand Defence Force).
As per the Government’s National Review there is much to be done and there are three main emerging priorities over the next five years for accelerating the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcomes of the twenty third special session of the General Assembly and subsequent intergovernmental agreements for the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of women at the national level. These are in the areas of greater economic independence, more women in leadership and increased safety from violence.
So how do we as common everyday women respond to these identified needs? Being the fortunate few who live in a country where the gender gap is not as big a divide as is in many other countries across the world, does it not become our responsibility to take the lead in furthering the cause of women? We can do this by living true to and honouring our own feminine spirit on an everyday basis. Being the nurturers its upto us to shape the generations that follow into individuals that understand equality. As citizens that understand that for the bird to soar into the vast open skies, it needs both its wings.
“Equality is not a concept. It's not something we should be striving for. It's a necessity. Equality is like gravity. We need it to stand on this earth as men and women, and the misogyny that is in every culture is not a true part of the human condition. It is life out of balance, and that imbalance is sucking something out of the soul of every man and woman who's confronted with it. We need equality. Kinda now.” Joss Whedon
I am woman is a movement that supports the cause of equality of the genders. It truly believes in sustainable development in a world where both men and women stand shoulder to shoulder and hold up their half of the skies. Needless to say that one cannot progress without the other. Besides being an organization then that is dedicated to empowering women, it also aims at bringing forth stories of exceptional men who are taking a stand for this cause, so that the ones that follow may be inspired by these trail blazers.
If you know any such men or are one yourself, we would like to hear from you. Please share your stories with us at iamwoman@xtra.co.nz show your support for us by liking us on facebook at www.facebook.com/womanunlimited.
***Ref - New Zealand Government’s National Review on the Implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (1995) and the outcomes of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly (2000) in the context of the 20th anniversary of the World Conference on Women and the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action 2015.
“A feminist is anyone who recognizes the equality and full humanity of women and men.” Gloria Steinem Men and women are described as the “two wings of a bird”. Needless to say, to be able to fly, a bird needs both its wings to be strong and working well together. How then do we humans manage to...
“A feminist is anyone who recognizes the equality and full humanity of women and men.” Gloria Steinem
Men and women are described as the “two wings of a bird”. Needless to say, to be able to fly, a bird needs both its wings to be strong and working well together. How then do we humans manage to create a divide in the way we empower one and not the other. It was as a result of the years of injustice and subjugation that the twentieth century saw the rise of the “feminist”. But, they had a point to prove, they had a journey to initiate. As a result of the tireless efforts of various women’s organistions, today, inspite of everything else that goes on, the value of women is undeniable. More and more countries now agree that for sustainable development they cannot continue to focus on the development of just half the population. Sustainable development needs to empower the woman - socially, politically, financially, educationally and in any other way possible, as she in turn empowers a whole new generation.
“In the nineteenth century, the central moral challenge was slavery. In the twentieth century, it was the battle against totalitarianism. We believe that in this century the paramount moral challenge will be the struggle for gender equality around the world.” Nicholas D. Kristof, Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide.
Towards this in 1995, in Beijing, a milestone was achieved at the Fourth World Conference on Women that committed to achieving gender equality by removing the obstacles that limit women's involvement in public and private life and prevented them from an equal share in decision-making. As we move towards the twentieth anniversary of the Beijing declaration in 2015, countries across the world are revisiting the progress they have made in this direction.
It is then a matter of pride that New Zealand ranks consistently high in respect of gender equality and is placed seventh out of 136 countries on the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Index 2013.
Major achievements in the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women in New Zealand since the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action in 1995 include: efforts to address the high rates of violence against women and girls, addressing barriers to women’s participation in employment, women holding high profile leadership and decision-making positions.
Violence within families affects the lives of thousands of people in New Zealand. Victims of the most severe cases of family violence including homicides, are predominantly women and children. Reducing violence within families and minimising its impact on women and children are long-standing priorities for New Zealand. Many developments in terms of legislative changes, introduction of Police safety orders, several campaigns and task forces have been put in place. Much needs to be done however to address the root of anger and violence.
Addressing barriers to women’s participation in employment, amendments to employment relations legislation and funding for early childhood education in the last decade have improved working conditions and employment outcomes for women. Many other strides have been made including the growing discussions on paid parental leave.
New Zealand has a proud and growing history of women holding high-profile leadership and decision-making positions including two women. Prime Ministers: Dame Jenny Shipley and Helen Clark. We have had two women Governors-General: Dame Catherine Tizard and Dame Silvia Cartwright.
The current Chief Justice of New Zealand is Dame Sian Elias. Within Government, 34 percent of our Members of Parliament are women. A number of conflict resolution and peace-building decision-making positions are currently held by women including the Minister of Justice, the Minister of Police, the Secretary of Defence (Chief Executive of the New Zealand Ministry of Defence), the Divisional Manager, International Security and Disarmament Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (lead civilian on international security issues), and the Director of Defence Intelligence (New Zealand Defence Force).
As per the Government’s National Review there is much to be done and there are three main emerging priorities over the next five years for accelerating the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcomes of the twenty third special session of the General Assembly and subsequent intergovernmental agreements for the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of women at the national level. These are in the areas of greater economic independence, more women in leadership and increased safety from violence.
So how do we as common everyday women respond to these identified needs? Being the fortunate few who live in a country where the gender gap is not as big a divide as is in many other countries across the world, does it not become our responsibility to take the lead in furthering the cause of women? We can do this by living true to and honouring our own feminine spirit on an everyday basis. Being the nurturers its upto us to shape the generations that follow into individuals that understand equality. As citizens that understand that for the bird to soar into the vast open skies, it needs both its wings.
“Equality is not a concept. It's not something we should be striving for. It's a necessity. Equality is like gravity. We need it to stand on this earth as men and women, and the misogyny that is in every culture is not a true part of the human condition. It is life out of balance, and that imbalance is sucking something out of the soul of every man and woman who's confronted with it. We need equality. Kinda now.” Joss Whedon
I am woman is a movement that supports the cause of equality of the genders. It truly believes in sustainable development in a world where both men and women stand shoulder to shoulder and hold up their half of the skies. Needless to say that one cannot progress without the other. Besides being an organization then that is dedicated to empowering women, it also aims at bringing forth stories of exceptional men who are taking a stand for this cause, so that the ones that follow may be inspired by these trail blazers.
If you know any such men or are one yourself, we would like to hear from you. Please share your stories with us at iamwoman@xtra.co.nz show your support for us by liking us on facebook at www.facebook.com/womanunlimited.
***Ref - New Zealand Government’s National Review on the Implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (1995) and the outcomes of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly (2000) in the context of the 20th anniversary of the World Conference on Women and the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action 2015.
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