Celebrating International Women’s Day everyday with my Daughter

Its funny how we need an allocated day per year to remind us all that Women should be as loved, cherished and celebrated as much as Men are – don’t you think that’s sad? I do.

As a mother of a little boy and a little girl I’d like to think that I treat and view them equally and that now in the 21st century everyone else does too. We hope that they will grow up to have the same opportunities as each other and that either of them can do what they choose – that’s certainly what we tell them and will always tell them as they grow up.

Sadly I realise that is not always the case and I know from first hand experience that there is still very much a gender gap within society and cultures. Here’s a shocking statistic for you:

It will take another 108 years to close the gender gap

According to the World Economic Forums last Global Gender Gap report

So if we don’t encourage and teach our children at home that women and men are equal then what chance do they have? So for us both of our children will be told about the great female and male Scientists/Doctors/Athletes/Engineers and generally great influencers without discrimination. Yes I suppose International Women’s Day is a day to highlight great Women in history but what I’m getting at is that we shouldn’t need to as you should be telling your children about all the great men and women anyway!

As a female Engineer in a male dominated industry its become normal to expect to be the only woman in a meeting/team or even project. To be criticised by peers and managers that you have too much ambition or that you come across as bossy or worse – rude. Thankfully my determination and also being told that I can’t do something meant I largely didn’t listen to those persons and paved a successful career that many would envy.

So if you have a little lady in your life – whoever she is – then just let her be free, let her be strong-willed, give her all the confidence she needs and encourage her to try things if shes curious – why can’t she be a formula 1 driver or head chef or pilot or a high-flying CEO? The answer is = there is no reason!

Maybe secretly I want our daughter to be an Engineer just like her mummy and daddy and we know we will definitely encourage STEM subjects however if she wants to be a hairdresser that’s cool too!