Name: Ishani Prasad
Community/State: Tully, Queensland
School: Tully State High School
Age/Grade: 16 Years, Year 11
Overcoming the odds – how can we push through barriers to achieve gender equality?
“Promoting gender equality is not only the responsibility of women, it’s the responsibility of all of us.” -Former UN Representative Kofi Annan
Gender equality is a political issue which has been argued and debated for decades. In the recent years there has clearly been a change in the rise of female leaders in workforces such as business operators which is now 34.9%, Engineering, ICT and science technicians currently at 22% and 32.9% of female lawyers. Regardless of the increase in women’s jobs, it is still evident that there are barriers which hold us back.
Breaking through the barriers that hold us back include changing the attitudes that are put toward women. Change begins and continues with our young boys and girls. By implementing a programme within the curriculum which would educate our boys to understand that women are no less than men would allow our young kids to be more open-minded about gender equality and fully embrace the gender diversity.
By removing the societal expectations of gender roles another barrier in gender equality is brought down. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, 1 in 2 mothers have experienced workplace discrimination as a result of pregnancy or parental leave. Likewise, 1 in 5 mothers indicated that they were made redundant, restructured, dismissed or their contract was not renewed after returning to work from leave. Providing more support for working mothers, allowing them to take time off, and come back to their jobs without the risk of losing their position is what is required. The fall-down that women face after birth further diminishes their chances of gaining a higher position within their field. Reassuring women that their current position would not be jeopardised by them going on maternity leave with provide women with the opportunity to jump back and continue climbing up the ladder and gain higher positions.
We as women need to fight for goals like gender equality. It is everyone’s responsibility to eliminate them. It starts off with educating our young. By allowing our girls to be strong, independent, to fight for what they believe in. To be determined. We should implement programmes into the curriculum which teaches our boys that women and girls are no less. Also, by providing women with extra support and the reassurance that their position will not be harmed once they return will allow for gender equality to be abolished from our society.