International Women's Day
Happy International women's Day ❤️
You all maybe wondering,why on Earth now i will show you some actual facts that shows there is still a way to go until we achieve gender equality.
❤️ Despite the Equal pay act being braught in 50 years ago, women are still paid on average 14.9% less than men in the uk for doing the same work.
❤️Less than 1% of uk venture capital investment goes to female founder teams.89% goes to Male founder teams and 10% to mixed gender founder team.
❤️ Men still dominate positions of leadership and desicion making. Only 31 out of 193 countries world wide have a woman as the head of the state or government.
❤️ Around the world, women spend 2-10 times more time on unpaid care.
❤️ Women don't have a say on their own bodies, only 34% of the countries allows abortion when requested and in many countries abortion is illegal.
❤️ In many countries women are denied education.
The official theme of IWD 2023 is "Embrace Equality" it is only when we will raise our voices and by fighting against ingrained sexism and unfair societal expectations and work towards gender equality and a better world.
*Sources taken from Google*
Tagging- @sunisshiningandsoareyou @SparkyGizmo @pheonixnesting @Fristo
@Healingbeams 
@Healingbeams
Omg this is devastating to hear. Why even try. Seems like if this is the heck we live in then what's the point.
@Dallady
I can understand the frustration, but if we don't fight for a change than it will not come,change does takes time but it happens and hence we should keep trying as it is proven change starts from us.
One step at a time.
@Healingbeams
Hi Healing! 😊❤️ Many thanks for your amazing forum post as well as tagging me, my friend! ❤️ Happy Womens Day!
You certainly have provided some great information for all of us. These are some very sad truths, that we as women have to face.
In addition to everything that you said, something that I find to be incredibly ironic is something that happens in the United States that is referred to as the "pink tax". Even though females will be paid less for doing the same job as a male in many instances (and while possibly having the same qualifications or even more so than the male counterpart) women are charged a great deal more for services and products.
So, in some instances a woman will earn less of a wage, have less income, but be charged exorbitant prices for the same types of things that males also need....simple things....basic needs...things like deodorant, soap, etc. if it is geared towards a womans specific needs or liking. Hair cuts is another example. A man can walk into a salon and be charged $15 for a hair cut while a female will be charged $60 (and that's going to the low end for some). This form of pricing will hold strong no matter what the length of hair is, what the hair cut desired is. Just simply the additional cost for being a woman.
Women at times can be taken advantage of when seeking certain services and one that is highly prevalent happens in the automotive industry. Your car needs to be serviced and you are female, well, be aware, very aware of what potentially could happen to you. Not all mechanics are crooked or bad people, but there are some that wear specific rings with a razor that flips out on the underside. They can go under your hood, cut hoses and make your car even more inoperable that when you first brought it in. They can charge you for odd little bits, pieces and parts that don't need to be replaced however some people could be "banking" on the fact that you, as a female, may be less educated about cars and car maintenance than a male as well as less likely to speak up. This can happen to males as well. I'm not making blanket statements here, I am simply aware.
Sometimes we as people (any gender) can fare much better by simply being educated about things and how the world operates from time to time. Don't like what is going on, one could stop having what is called "brand loyalty". We can have our favorites of products, but can shift our mind set to...soap is soap, deodorant is deodorant. We can become price conscious and simply use the men's variety that is offered. Ahhhhh, the power of the pocketbook! There is your power ladies! If you don't buy the products they must change their behavior! Sales plummet.
Covid was horrible however it did teach us quite a few things. Some of us, since we could not leave the house, starting watching you tube videos on how to effectively give family members lovely hair cuts as well as cut our own hair. Nice! Even if I may be able to afford that $60 + haircut, nope, not going to do it unless I want to treat myself or clean up some fiasco that I did to myself! 😊 haha! (FYI, come to find out, I'm great at cutting hair for friends and family members and even my own) Winning!!!!!!👍
If I need to take the car into the shop, I stand tall, have good posture, look them in the eye as well as have researched what could potentially be the problem. I let them know I am price conscious and I'm no joke, I am not one to be toyed with and have identified what could be the problem on my own. Yup, I will "speak your language". I am not rude, however I am quite direct. I ask that I be informed of what will happen to my car before anything does and I need to approve the work prior to it being completed.
Going to buy a car, no worries. I take a male friend along with me. Even if I know how the "game goes" and my male friend does not, I teach them how to effectively negotiate on my behalf. I educate my male platonic friend prior to going to dealerships. I am the brains behind the negotiation and they become the brawn that will be more highly respected than I would be. Thank you wonderful males of the universe! 😊❤️
Many men out there see some of our struggles also! Men also have a lot to deal with (who doesn't) and they are treated poorly as well in certain instances. They too have many situations that are unfair and having to endure simply because they are men.
sending *high fives* 😊 and big *hugs* ❤️ to US all! ❤️❤️❤️
@SparkyGizmo
The issues that you have highlighted, such as the pink tax and sexism in industries like automotive, are indeed real and have been studied and documented by various researchers and organizations. The pink tax refers to the practice of charging more for female-targeted products and services, and it has been found to exist in a wide range of industries, from personal care products to clothing and toys. For example, a study by the New York City Department of Consumer Affairs found that women's products cost an average of 7 % more than men's products, with personal care products being the worst offenders.
This price discrepancy is not only unjust, but can also contribute to the gender pay gap. Women already earn less than men for doing the same job, and being charged more for products marketed towards them only exacerbates this inequality.
Additionally, gender discrimination in the workplace is a real and persistent problem. Despite equal pay laws, women continue to earn less than men for the same work, with women of colour experiencing even wider pay gaps. Women are also more likely to experience harassment and discrimination in the workplace, with one in three women reporting that they have been sexually harassed at work.
Similarly, studies have shown that women are often treated differently in the automotive industry, with mechanics assuming that women have less knowledge about cars and therefore are more likely to be overcharged or taken advantage of.
Sexism is not just a social issue, it is a matter of life and death for women. From birth to death, women face various forms of violence and discrimination that threaten their well-being and their lives.
Starting from infancy, baby girls are often subjected to gender-based violence such as female genital mutilation (FGM) and infanticide in some cultures. As they grow up, they may face sexual harassment and assault in schools, colleges, and workplaces. Many women are raped or sexually assaulted by someone they know, such as a partner or family member, and the majority of these crimes go unreported and unpunished.
In many societies, women are denied equal access to education and job opportunities, making it difficult for them to achieve economic independence and escape abusive relationships. Women are also more likely to live in poverty than men, which increases their vulnerability to violence and exploitation.
The healthcare system is also not immune to sexism, with women often receiving inferior treatment or having their concerns dismissed by medical professionals. This can have deadly consequences, as women's symptoms may be ignored or misdiagnosed, leading to delayed or inadequate treatment.
Even in death, women may face discrimination, with their deaths often not investigated thoroughly or taken as seriously as men's deaths. Female victims of violence are often blamed for their own deaths, with the focus on their behaviour or clothing rather than the perpetrator's actions.