What if ? Inspired by International Women's Day

Today, and on all days, I can't help but wonder how this world would have been and would be like now had patriarchy never been allowed to get this out of control, if respect, equality and fairness were given and received regardless of sex or gender.  

Imagine if 50% of landowners in the agricultural era were women, or 50% of government representatives right from the beginning of civilisation were women. Imagine just how many more women might have been recognised inventers, discoverers and leading academics if women were supported in the 17th century and beyond. Imagine if there was no need for the suffragettes, women instead being eligible to vote when voting began. Would so much genocide and overthrowing of indigenous populations have happened? Would all of history’s wars have been as significant if half of the decision-makers were women?

 Would we even have this neo-liberalist capitalist society? And if we did, would it be fairer for parents in recognising the one who leaves the workforce to work at home on financially equal terms to one who is remunerated. Or would there be a living wage for raising the family, caring for grandparents and those of us who are sick and disabled? Would we value nurturing our best resource – humankind - over money? Would disability inclusion be a given and not something to be fought for?

Becoming disabled has provided me with an insight into the world of marginalisation of many groups in our society. Women make up approximately half the population, yet we show up in way less than half the leadership roles, traditionally slotted into jobs and careers that are inarguably the most valuable, yet paid so much less. Women are much more often left raising and protecting themselves and their children all too frequently from their own partners and fathers. All these inequalities are made even more severe when you are part of a minority group such as being a woman with a disability.

 International Women's Day should be about men and children too because empowered women in turn help empower men in ways that don't have to be all about rampant masculinity. A man should never feel threatened or less than a woman, nor should he think he should have all the answers. Men can learn from women in so many ways, especially when it comes to communicating with each other and their partners and holding friendships based on more than sports talk. And that way of being needs to be modelled for the next generation.

Until we recognise and develop the perspectives, knowledge and capabilities of women in the same way as we do men, we will always need an international day to bring women's achievements and contributions to the fore. To start living equitably in a woman's AND a man’s world.