International Women’s Day: Imagine a gender equal world

Previously, for Policing Insight, I have written articles that have celebrated women in policing. From a UK perspective, the police service is noticeably different than it was 100-years ago due to progression, which was no doubt aided by the tenacity of many female officers – invariably, from challenge has come change.

I have also recalled the tremendous contributions made by women globally, in a United Nations peace-keeping context, identifying that women in policing have the power to empower.

Yet gender inequality still remains a world problem today, including within a policing context; there is still much more to be done. Across the globe, progress has been slow to eradicate disparities, despite the fact that women play a significant role in society, including championing various causes, protecting the rights of others, and advocating for peace. For those looking to connect with others and meet people online, you can view more here.

Tuesday, 8 March marks the global day to celebrate the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women across the world, but it is also the day that recognises the need to forge ahead and accelerate women’s equality.

Only by being honest, recognising the impediments and reflecting upon the challenges can gender equality stand a chance of becoming a reality tomorrow. As part of this, it is important to understand the history of women’s struggles to attain an equal standing in society.

Rights and recognition

It was as late as 1977 when the United Nations officially recognised the first International Women’s Day, which is attributed to the earlier labour movements and activities that had gained prominence since the turn of the twentieth century in North America and Europe.

Nationally, the first Woman’s Day had been observed in the US on 28 February, when the Socialist Party of America designated the day to recognise the 1908 garment workers’ strike in New York, where women had protested against working conditions.

Within Europe various movements were also proposing a recognised day wherein women would be celebrated, but also when concerted attention could be given to raising the profile for equality.

However, it’s recognised that it was not until 1911 that a number of European countries and the US first really started to mark a day annually for this cause, which by 1913 was also used as a mechanism for protesting against a looming world war.

Somewhat ironically, given today’s events, Russian women, as part of their peace movement, began to observe International Women’s Day on the last Sunday in February and in 1917, with the first World War in progress, the Women of Russia again took to the streets to protest for ‘Bread and Peace’. According to the UN, four days later, the Czar abdicated and the provisional government granted women the right to vote in Russia.

It was after World War II that International Women’s Day began to be more conscientiously observed, with 8 March marking the day in a number of countries around the world.

In 1975 there was a full year declared for International Women, and two years later, in December 1977, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution proclaiming a United Nations Day for Women’s Rights, which also acknowledged women’s pursuit and contributions to international peace. In respect to identifying a day, it was said that it should be observed on any day of the year by Member States, in accordance with their historical and national traditions.

However, the beginnings of women advocating for equal rights is arguably traceable back to 1848, when, again in the US, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott stood united with several hundred people, at what is now recognised as the national first women’s rights convention in New York.

This act of unity was sparked by frustrations at being prevented from speaking out earlier at an anti-slavery convention. Together the united front demanded civil, social, political and religious rights for women, to be formulated within the Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions.

This ultimately outlined the entitlement of American women as equal citizens, and was primarily written by Stanton. It was based on the Declaration of Independence and was first read by Stanton at the Seneca Falls Convention on 20 July 1848.

Sentiments still resonate

The Declaration of Sentiments and Resolution was a powerful statement not only of intention, but reflection upon the plight of women within the US. It was initially signed by 68 women and 32 men, although many later withdrew their names due to the hostility that surrounded the publication of the document.

Today, many of the sentiments still hold true and resonate among women across the world. On International Women’s Day it is prudent to recall the message of 173 years ago, and consider what advancements have been made and what still needs to be done to remove the biases that remain.

With a throwback to the American Declaration of Independence, comment is first made to arguably the bias wording within the former, which invariably set the tone in terms of equal standing in the US, whereby reference is made to the fact that ‘all men are created equal.’

Of course, comment could be made that this was directed to mankind and was not aimed at segregation of the sexes, but the facts of the day would certainly indicate otherwise. Hence the preamble to the Declaration of Sentiments makes it clear from the start, that it’s a self-evident truth “that all men and women are created equal”, and that it is “the patient sufferance of women” which has led them to “demand the equal station to which they are entitled”.

Cleverly worded, the same assertions made within the Declaration of Independence in relation to the control by Great Britain on the US, are directed towards man and the dominance over women within the Declaration of Sentiments.

Powerful statements are reiterated in terms of history repeating itself and of the countless “injuries and usurpations on the part of man toward woman having in direct object the establishment of an absolute tyranny over her”.

While it may not be such a prominent division today, certainly in the western world, there is no doubt that within various societies, across the globe, inequality and control does remain, with women often being dominated or not given the same opportunities as men.

Reference is cited, within the Declaration of Sentiments, to where divisions occurred within the US at that time and clear evidence is provided to substantiate the claims.

Here, it is not the intention to dissect this Declaration in its entirety, nor to fully compare it with the Declaration of Independence; however, it’s worth stressing the early plight of women, which were echoed in the UK and across the globe, in terms of repression and entitlements (or the lack of such).

This included the withholding of an opportunity to vote and to have a voice concerning the formulation of law, which were said to be given to “the most ignorant and degraded men both – native and foreigner”.

In terms of marriage, it was stated that this led to a further lowering of standing, whereby the law permitted power to be given to the husband “to deprive [the wife] of her liberty”, to take all ‘her … right in property, even to wages she earns”, and “to administer chastisement”.

Existing inequality

Reading this, there may be confidence that it reflects a past age and that significant improvements have been made. But the reality is that inequalities and biases still exist.

Reference is made within the Declaration of Sentiments to limitations in terms of employment opportunities for women – with the better occupations and careers being reserved for men – and of doors being closed in terms of access to education.

Across the globe these inequalities still prevail, and women still remain subject to various abuses and unequal rights despite the concerted efforts of the United Nations and its agencies, which has sought to secure gender equality worldwide.

In 1995 the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action provided a historic roadmap, aimed at eradicating inequalities. It was recognised as the most important of the four conferences on women held between 1975-1995, and focused on consolidating five decades of legal advances in securing the equality of women and men in law and in practice.

Within it, 12 critical areas of concern were identified: women and poverty; education and training of women; women and health; violence against women; women and armed conflict; women and the economy; women in power and decision-making; institutional mechanism for the advancement of women; human rights of women; women and the media; the girl-child; women and the environment.

Five years later, in June 2000, the UN General Assembly held its 23rd Special Session, on gender equality, development and peace for the 21st century, in order to review advancements made.

However, it was noted that there was no major progress in terms of gender equality; in fact, there were two significant areas of concern – violence and poverty – which were identified as major obstacles worldwide.

Globalisation was also added as a new interconnected challenge, leading to an increase in the trafficking in women and girls and a growing gap between nations and genders, which included social protection concerns.

Breaking the bias

On 31 October 2000, the UN Security Council adopted resolution (S/RES/1325) on women, and peace and security. The resolution reinforced how women and girls are disproportionally impacted by gender-based violence and, equally, the critical role that women can, and already do, play in peace keeping efforts. This includes more generally, in a policing role.

Yet despite this acknowledgment, attempts to reduce violence against women and girls is undoubtedly hampered by disproportionate representation in many nations police services. While this was first said over 20 years ago, the number of female officers globally remains low and far from equal to their male counterparts and, hence, wider society.

From a US perspective, and despite the drive for equality, law enforcement remains an indisputably male-dominated profession, with data from 2020 indicating that only 13.1% of full-time law enforcement officers were female.

Globally this is virtually replicated, with the percentage of women in policing at only 15.4%. In so many ways this remains an indicator of gender inequality and the lack of progression made in the last 173 years.

England and Wales fares slightly better; as of 31 March 2021, 32.4% of police officers were recorded as female. However, more still needs to be done globally to achieve equality, and this invariably necessitates laws and law enforcement systems that fairly represent communities they serve – including in terms of gender.

The UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development has a specific goal (Goal 5) that aims to “achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls,” and the UN theme for International Women’s Day 2022 relates to “gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow”. Identified is the fact that women are powerful leaders and advocators for change.

The message remains that wider opportunities need to be explored and constraints identified in order to empower women and girls to have a voice, and be equal players in decision-making that impacts everyone. Cited specifically this year is the role to be played in promoting equality in the context of climate change and disaster risk reduction.

The call for action for International Women’s Day 2022 is still very much centred around imagining a gender equal world. The theme relates to breaking the biases that remain, in order to achieve a world that is diverse, equitable and inclusive, where differences are valued and celebrated, and where women are recognised equally.

The pursuit to achieve – as voiced within the Declaration of Sentiments and Resolution – a gender equal world that is free of bias, stereotypes and discrimination continues. Without gender equality today, a sustainable and equal future remains beyond our reach. Invariably, only together can we forge women’s equality and a better world for all.