I feel lucky to live in a region where women seem to have more opportunities than anywhere else in the world. I live in a community where the current and last two mayors were women and the leadership in many community groups and organizations is provided by females. The traditional gender roles and occupations are still popular but there are also women doctors, oilfield workers and police officers.
I spent the 100th anniversary of International Women's Day with some incredibly talented, dedicated and generous women with different life experiences and different strengths. They motivate me to be a better person and I feel supported in their presence. I have had many female role models throughout my life. They have influenced me and encouraged me, inspired me and helped me to develop skills, talents and confidence. Generations of women have made me who I am through their hard work, self-sacrifice and love.
I spent some time contemplating the role of my sex in the world today and although the popular cigarette ads from my childhood still ring in my head "You've come a long way, baby" there is still a gap in equality even in our country today. The ad bothers me for its use of the word baby, but it does speak of our journey and even in my life I have seen positive changes.
Over the years I have heard people talk about International Women's Day as an unnecessary observance. I disagree. In a world where preteen girls are married off without their understanding or consent, where women are forced to cover their faces, where girl babies are still unwanted and where women who are assaulted are criticized for their fashion choices, we need International Women's Day.
I am a mother of a nine-year-old girl. I limit her media time, but I can't protect her completely from a world that treats her differently from her brother. She is strong, talented, compassionate, beautiful and inspiring. At her age I had aspirations of being a nun, a mother, a teacher or a nurse. They were the only jobs I saw women holding and I knew I wanted to do something to help people. Even at her young age my daughter says she doesn't want to get married and as she speaks of being a teacher or an artist there is a part of her who wants to be a princess. I don't know what she will decide to do but I know she deserves every opportunity and reward, respect and dignity just as every other woman, child and man in the world.
