HAPPY WOMEN’S DAY, MEN!

Women are normally featured for the entire month of March, especially in celebration of International Women’s Day on March 8 to showcase the contributions and achievements of women, and to promote gender parity, to put an end to gender inequality around the world. Filipino women are not different from women in the other parts of the globe who achieve in all fields of endeavor, as well as suffer gender bias anywhere, everywhere, even in the home. 

Underscore the men of this generation: are men who empower or encourage and uphold women empowerment omnipresent, or rare? Whatever the answer is, it is high time to teach the boys and young men at home, in school, in churches, and in communities to blur (at best, erase) the line that puts men above women. Share stories of success where genders enjoy the same rights and opportunities and not one is left behind. Better yet, show, don’t tell. Begin at home. Inspire them to do the right thing. Foster equality. Discourage discrimination and everything that has to do with hegemonic masculinity. 

Feminism has been a long struggle. Without citing statistics, some men (if not most) are still domineering, controlling, and downgrading the power of women in society, in the workplace, and at home. Change is possible in many ways. One is to teach the boys and men how to treat the other genders fairly, as girls and women are also taught on how to emerge as empowered individuals that they should be. Women and girls may already know by now that they have the power to achieve and succeed in their chosen fields, yet how ideal is it when men encourage them to bring out their best in everything that they do, instead of putting them down because they are girls or women? 

“Break the Bias” is the 2022 campaign for International Women’s Day’s theme, “Gender Equality Today for a Sustainable Tomorrow.” Everyone is encouraged to participate. 

Practice makes perfect, they say. Is it so difficult to begin? Try breaking the bias today, every day, and break the bias forever!