March 8, International Women’s Day

Professor Henry Francis B. Espiritu of the Gender and Development Office of the University of the Philippines Cebu sent out this invitation for March 8, 2019 International Women’s day:

“From 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM, at the Cebu Provincial Capitol Grounds, we are inviting every one of those who love to walk-out, arise and fight proactively for an end to all kinds of violence against women, children and the LGBTQIAs.

“ONE BILLION RISING DANCE FOR REVOLUTION will move the earth, activating humans across gender, ethnic, ideological and creedal divisions to be one in fighting against gender-based violence, misogyny, and the culture of impunity and cruelty against women, children, the LGBTQIAs, the Indigenous Peoples and the marginalized. We ought to show the world and this present misogynistic regime of our collective strength, our numbers, our activist solidarity across borders through our energetic and defiant dancing. We dance our cause to victory—to REVOLUTION!

“ONE BILLION will look like a REVOLUTION. It’s the ONE BILLION RISING FOR REVOLUTION against all forms of gender-based violence, oppression, misogyny, discrimination and marginalization.

“The Preface of the ILO report, ‘A Quantum Leap for Gender Equality: For a Better Future World of Work for All’ shared by former ILO Director Thetis Abrera Mangahas, noted: ‘while there are many paths to addressing gender equality in the world of work, they must ultimately all unite to reinforce each other. Reaching this significant point in the journey is rewarding since today we know much more about the gender gaps in the world of work and what fuels them. We wanted to better understand why progress for women in the world of work was so slow and what could be done to accelerate it, and we have learned a considerable amount in this respect. We know more about what women want in the world of work, and why they are not getting it, through listening to their voices. With what we know now, the often heard excuse that women do not want to work or do not find work meaningful is no longer credible, and no longer acceptable anywhere.’

“Women want to work at paid jobs. But it is the unpaid part of their work that essentially holds them back. Looking at the various gender gaps and the range of obstacles, the road consistently comes back to care. Social norms reinforce the roles of women as caregivers, men as breadwinners. Care needs must be addressed in an intentional and meaningful way – for both women and men – through laws, policies and services.

“The implications of the unequal distribution of unpaid care work are far-reaching: Women are more vulnerable to violence and harassment at work, to low and unequal pay, to lack of voice and representation. The current imbalance also means that men work long hours for pay and miss out on family life. A transformative and measurable agenda for gender equality and the future of work must take these factors into account. Whether women work in the fields, the boardroom or through digital platforms, whether they are own account workers or managers, the care and paid work conundrum needs to be addressed. Otherwise the future of work for women will simply replicate the past.

“Clearly, mindsets still need to change…it is no longer possible for governments, workers and employers or international organizations to claim that they are advancing gender equality in the absence of a proactive and courageous agenda and unwavering political will. Choices need to be made now, even though unpopular, to ensure a better future of work for all.”