International Women’s Day

I was recently asked a specific question for a newspaper article featuring 3 prominent women and myself. We were given the “Premio Mujer y Conciencia” award. The award exalts 4 women – for the International Women’s Day – who are doing great works while raising awareness for their particular causes. When I got the call, I felt like Obama winning the Nobel Peace Prize. Maybe it’s a bit premature in my life, but I understand the reasoning behind it. I am honored and humbled, don’t get me wrong, but I’m still trying to let it sink in. It’s not applauding what I’ve accomplished so far, but what I’ve been doing and especially what I want to do in the years to come.

I don’t recall ever being asked this question before, so I answered it the best I could.

Do you feel being a woman is an advantage, disadvantage or inconsequential?

It depends on the woman and, unfortunately, where you were born. It’s not inconsequential because we were born for a specific purpose in life. In the western world it’s a disadvantage if you let it be one. For example, people might see it as a disadvantage back when women couldn’t vote. But it’s a privilege to fight for something you believe in. If the right to vote would have been given to us from the beginning, our history would be completely different. I don’t feel being a woman is an advantage. It’s more of an asset. I consider gender inequality unfair, so it’s not an advantage one way or the other. Women posses the same qualities as men: we can be physically strong, we can take care of a family, and we can be heads of a multi-million dollar corporation. The key is what you do with that opportunity.

On the other hand, if we take a look at our sisters in other parts of our world, where female genital mutilation is still the order of the day, then we might see it as a disadvantage. Women are still being oppressed, stoned to death, chastised and ridiculed, ordered around, treated as sexual objects, forced into prostitution, trafficked and sold as someone’s property, denied the right to an education, forced into marriage, beaten and raped. This is a harsh reality that we must face. It’s not a disadvantage to be a woman. In this case, the disadvantage they have is that we keep allowing all of these things to happen. Women all around the world should look out for each other’s best interest. It could mean raising awareness as to what’s going on in other countries, being advocates, legislating for them, physically helping out, making noise in the international community to pressure the governments into looking at the situation and prohibiting these atrocious acts. Whatever it is, something must be done.

For women and men out there, what do you think?

Related posts:

1. Can We (Men) Lose Control?
2. Re: Machismo: The Modern Puerto Rican Girl’s Social Conundrum.