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Equal access to education, training and science and technology: Pathway to decent work for women

“He’s a guy with decent job.” “He has the perfect credentials for the job.” What are both mankind and womankind get used to express as a royal quality of masculine. “Career”, “Professionalism” and “Decent Works” are one of the unique criteria of greatest attributes in manhood. “MEN”! Are they the only creatures who are competent and accomplished any and all classes of business? What’s about their counterpart, WOMEN?

Both women and men work very hard on the world planet. Men’s work, however, is always perceived as more notable and more priceless than women’s work. Throughout the history, the work that women do is often not seen work. The role of women play in all aspects of society remains undermined. “Why the terminology “Women with decent work” is uncommon even in this 21st century?” cannot even be exaggerated in some conservative societies.

This 2011 is timely favored to make a wake-up call. We have the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day on March 8. It’s time to reflect the historic struggles and achievements, and for heading to the unheard voices and untapped sources of wealth for our future girls and women.

Why are we affected by gender from the moment we are born? We, Women, hold up half the sky. We are half the world’s population, yet we do two-thirds of the world’s work, earn one-tenth of the world’s wages, and own less than one per cent of the world’s wealth. At the same time, we are among the poorest of the poorest. Would you say that SHE doesn’t work so hard?

If women work so hard, why do they get very little income? Generally, women often do three different kinds of work: family work, paid work and community work. Obviously, much of women’s work is unpaid. Even when women hold paying jobs, their salaries are often lower than men’s. This happens in developed, industrialized countries, too. What are the reasons behind this injustice?

In Burma where I was born and have grown up, traditional culture highly supports gender stereotypes misbelieving education is less crucial for girls than for boys, and especially in the times of hardship. Subsequently, women get less education than men, so we are seldom offered highly-skilled and well-paid jobs. Even when we have the same competencies as our male rivals, women are still paid less because men are regarded to be the breadwinners. As a result of having unequal educational opportunity, fewer women participate in workers unions or other associations that promote worker rights. As long as we can’t acquire equal access to education, we’ll be endlessly barred to REAL change.

Another reason why women are far left behind men is tasks that girls are nurtured to do well such as cooking and sewing commonly rewards less than labors that boys are trained like building and working with technical machines. Despite witnessing that women are able to perform jobs that were traditionally only dominated by men, the notion is that women are still weaker. See that some women are physically stronger than some men whereas some male individuals are more caring than their feminine counterparts. I dare to proclaim differences in capabilities are more significant in individualism than sexism. Today individual men and women can be trained to improve similar activities. Separate from the traditional views to reach at the clear understanding and just provide us an equal access to training.

When we are demanding the pathways to decent work for women, considering where we are sounds reasonable. We have made great improvements to some extent in this innovative era. We do have from female scientists to spacewomen. Meanwhile, the coverage made by women in science and technology world is apparently dimmer than men’s contribution. I experienced five years varsity student life specializing IT. In our alumni circle, “Geeks” only relates to man. What a mystery for women equal access to science and technology is?

Make progress highlighting UN’s this year IWD theme “Equal access to education, training, science and technology: Pathway to decent work”. Affirm “HE is not the only one who wants and deserves a decent work”. Be kind enough to her to walk on the same pathway with those with just different sex.

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Dear my fellow,

Congratulations to each of you for your great job.

It's my pleasure to receive any kinds of comments and suggestions from you. With your kind support, I believe I can create a better final post.

Thanks in advance.

With Love,
Insha Allah

Comments

Farona's picture

Sis! Wonderful choice of

Sis! Wonderful choice of theme,i.e the theme itself of this year’s int’l woman’s day ;- )

I can fully understand what you mean by ‘geeks’ only referring to men, although some woman graduating may be exceptionally ‘geeky’ and talented than men. But just because, science and technology is seen as a field where ‘men’ prosper. Often less talented men face fewer obstacles than a talented woman.

At the end of the day, we should encourage talented people not perceived talented genders!

I am not good at giving suggestions, perhaps as an int’l reader I would like to know what % of women in your country graduate in science and technology and how it reflects in the work place

Good work ;- )

Insha Allah's picture

old belief

Dear sister Farona,

Thank you so much for your supportive comment. Sure! The point you made is truly perfect. In a quite conservative society like my country, science and tech is the area where MEN only can capable of Men are somehow better than Women. The worst this is the old belief and never find and accept the reality. In my varsity life, even Women professors favor male students and they don’t want us to put in their discussion. What a disappointing!

Your suggestion made me alert. As you highlight, if I can put such a statistic in my piece, they would be so supportive but it’s is so difficult to know such a data in my country. Anyway, you led me.

With Love,
Insha Allah

Insha Allah

warona's picture

Congratulations gal!

Dear Insha !

How is yourself in Burma? Hope your fine over there!

mmmmm! creatures! Well as for me i appreciate the work of God for creating men, Indeed they are wonderful,i like the fact that Insha you are unveiling a heavy blanket from our eyes.The perception that has been going on about women must cease! Yes all people are equall,we all have the potential,as much as God said in his word that we will do great and mighty works in this world we are therefore limitless we women.Cultural beliefs have bound us but now as the truth be told we will explore our potentials.

You know Insha i thank God here in Botswana, girls are not destined for house chores only but they are also allowed to venture into the most challenging careers in my country.Just recently we have quite a good number of girls being taken at Botswan Defence Force for trainning.

Anyway thanks for your great article,keep writing ,this is great my friend!

I wish you all the best dear!

Warona

"success will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time " And when confronted conquer with love

Insha Allah's picture

traditional misbelief

Dear sister Warona,

I’m fine here and thank a lot for your comment and taking time to read my piece. It’s off course time to shift from traditional misbelief and to explore our insights.

I’m so glad to hear that the situations of women and girls in your country in the challenging working condition. Here, traditionally perception, girls and women cannot and should not do such business. We have NO WOMEN in the army.

With Love,
Insha

Insha Allah

Emie Zozobrado's picture

Hi Insha Allah!

That's right, sister, women and girls as underdogs, conveniently shoved at the sidelines and in the kitchen is a distorted tradition and society has worsened it all the more. Girls are supposed to play with dolls while boys are given toy guns and toy vehicles to play with. Children are raised the way society wants them to be. People make society, so people can change it. Back in the olden times women had no place in governance in my country, until a bloodless and peaceful people power installed our first woman president in 1986. Our struggle is an uphill climb but we are moving and we will be there! All the best...

Always,
Emie Zozobrado

Dear sister Emie,

Thanks a lot for your encouraging comment.

There are some people who believe that natural differences between men and women equip them for different abilities and skills. Because women have to bring their children up, they are assumed traditionally to work in the home in most cultures. Furthermore, working women are likely to dominate some caring professions such as teaching, nursing or social work, and this has tended the perception that women are specifically suited to such jobs.

However, it is not easy to separate this notion from the traditional views and to reach at any clear understanding of what physical and genetic abilities belong to one or the other gender. As alarmingly increasing number of women in different countries get access to jobs outside the home, it is undeniable that we are able to perform jobs that were traditionally only dominated by men. With the development to achieve higher education, even the highest rank positions in science and technology, politics or law, for instance, can be held successfully by women. Therefore, the claim that both sexes can do the same works equally can be a justifiable comment, especially in terms of intellectual employment.

Best regards,
Insha Allah

Insha Allah

Emie Zozobrado's picture

Yeah right, sister!

Yes Insha, the claim that men and women are equals is not only justifiable but is in fact evident. Caring for children, running a home and building a family are the very essence of sexual relationships. Parenthood is a conjugal privilege and duty. In my country nowadays women are driving cars, flying planes and running governance - where in the long ago things like these were inconceivable! Life is what we make it and we chart our own destiny. We have already started ... it's easy for the rest to pick up the struggle and together we will claim what has been denied and deprived of us! All the best...

Always,
Emie Zozobrado

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