International Women’s Day – What it means to me

Most of you will know that today marks international women’s day. I’ve always been brought up with an awareness of women’s struggles throughout the centuries and the fact that women, in this country, haven’t always had the rights we perhaps take for granted today.

I was taught significant, world-changing names like – Emmeline Pankhurst and Maya Angelou – strong, ground-breaking women. I wonder how many teenagers have heard of these names now? (I hope more than I expect). 

International Women’s Day

But do I think about this every day? No. Do I celebrate the significance of International Women’s day usually? No.

But I now have a daughter. A toddler who’s already full of personality. A little girl who I want to have every opportunity available to her in life, regardless of her sex.

Since being pregnant, a whole new world of women’s rights (and sometimes lack thereof), discrimination and inequality of the sexes has been opened-up to me. Not necessarily all of which I’ve suffered from, but certainly something that is being experienced by many around me. Strong, intelligent, capable women are not necessarily getting the same opportunities as their male peers.

But I digress…

This blog post isn’t going to be some feminist stand-point. But it’s an awareness. An awareness of my responsibility as a parent, as a mother. My responsibility having a daughter and my current experience of empowerment as a working mother.

#MancMamas

Last night I attended a networking event in Manchester, aimed towards mothers that are working. These mothers had varied backgrounds and experiences. Some were entrepreneurs and starting their own businesses. Some were working for organisations. All had children and ALL had felt some effect of inflexibility in the work place, whether temporarily or so much so that they were forced to leave. This is insane and so backwards.

But again, this isn’t going to be a rant.

What I took from the event was the fact that women (as well as men) are totally bloody awesome. They’re inspiring and full of ideas. They’re powerful, forward-thinking, ground-breaking. They’re daughters, wives and mothers. And I left with a huge smile on my face, brimming with ideas and excited to go home and tell my husband all about it. I left thinking the my daughter will have so many wonderful opportunities in life and that as parents, we’ll make sure of it.

#WeBlogMamas

Some of you will know that I run a Northern Bloggers Collective called @WeBlogMCR. This is group where collaboration is encouraged, where we aim to learn from each other and inspire each other. It’s not a female group, but tends to have a lot of women involved and so I get to be surrounded by awesome women all the time. It’s a fantastic support group and I’m proud to say that I have a lot of Mamas in the group too. Something that means a lot to me at this stage in my life and my new career. So in honour of these awesome mamas, doing their thing, I’ve created a hashtag (how very millenial of me!) so that we can all find each other on social media, share ideas and support one another. And that’s #WeBlogMamas.

We love men too!

But please please don’t read this and misunderstand. We love men too. The point is, we shouldn’t have to celebrate women’s achievements or rights on one calendar day a year. It should just be the norm. I hope that by the time my daughter is aware of society, that this doesn’t even come into the equation. That feminism isn’t a stand-point, it’s just a way of life for both men and women.

And if you happen to be reading this as an employer. Please reflect on your company ethos and whether males and females, expectant mums and mothers are truly treated equally and given the same opportunities. If they are, bravo to you, there’s not enough of you out there!