Where it all begins from...

In some Western cultures, pink is for girls and blue is for boys. Why? You might hear mothers remark with wonder that their little girls just love the pink dress that was given to them. You may have heard fathers insist that their sons not wear pink clothing. It is interesting to think that at the end of the nineteenth century in the USA, pink was actually the color preferred for boys, being a soner version of military red. Things have changed.

The accepted wisdom that stereotypes originally come from a place of truth is erroneous. No credible research has indicated that girls gravitate toward pink things without any cultural prompting. Our gendered behavior is primarily socially conditioned. Research suggests that the idea of a female brain and a male brain is false. Rather, the plasticity of the brain means that it can be molded—from birth onward—through learning, engaging in the world, and being socially conditioned. This includes learning and absorbing gender stereotyping.

Gendered colors are harmless, though, right? No, not really. Any gender stereotype will reinforce a gender bias. In 2019, a Fawcett Society study found that 45 percent of people said that when they were children, they experienced gender stereotyping as they were expected to behave in a certain way. Seven in 10 younger women (18–34) affected by stereotypes say their career choices were restricted. Around 70 percent of individuals in 34 countries associated science with males more than with females.

Caregivers and teachers often reproduce the stereotype that boys are better in science and mathematics than girls, encouraging girls to aspire to 'female-oriented' careers instead of ‘male’. To compound this negative reinforcement, curriculum and learning materials reinforce gender stereotypes and unequal gender norms. In India, illustrations in math and science textbooks in primary and secondary schools show 6 percent girls but more than 50 percent boys. The stereotyping sanctioned by parents, teachers, and the curriculum itself negatively impacts a girl’s self-belief and her future aspirations.

When three women won the Nobel Prize for science in 2020 in a certain country, it was newsworthy, partly because not many women have won the prize over the years. But is it also newsworthy because, even today, many would not expect women to be such high achievers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics?

Engineering is for boys. Mechanical toys are for boys. Science experiments are for boys. These are the stereotypes we learn. Where does this thinking come from? There’s obviously a lot to unpack here: traditional roles in society born out of a female’s capability to bear children, or stronger upper body strength, on average, amongst males, for example. But they don’t speak to our cognitive and intellectual potential. And I’m sure there would be many who would dispute every particular of the above. Questioning norms that are the foundation of our interaction with the world is difficult for all of us to do.

Acknowledging that stereotypes exist is straightforward. Deciding that they shouldn’t constrain female behavior and life paths is a little harder. But confronting and actively challenging these stereotypes—indeed, breaking them! Is an altogether more difficult process. How do we do it? How do we take organic and grassroots solutions toward a tipping point of change?

Gender equality is not only a fundamental human right but also a necessary foundation for a peaceful, prosperous, and sustainable world.

There has been progress over the last decades: more girls are going to school, fewer girls are forced into early marriage, more women are serving in parliament and positions of leadership, and laws are being reformed to advance gender equality.

Despite these gains, many challenges remain: discriminatory laws and social norms remain pervasive, women continue to be underrepresented at all levels of political leadership, and 1 in 5 women and girls between the ages of 15 and 49 report experiencing physical or sexual violence by an intimate partner within a 12-month period.

The post COVID -19 Pandemic effect is still in force

These effects of the COVID-19 pandemic could reverse the limited progress that has been made on gender equality and women’s rights.

The coronavirus outbreak exacerbates existing inequalities for women and girls across every sphere, from health and the economy to security and social protection.

Women played and still play a disproportionate role in responding to the virus, including as frontline healthcare workers and caregivers at home. Women’s unpaid care work has increased significantly during the school closure periods due to the increased needs of older people.

Women were/are also harder hit by the economic impacts of COVJD-19, as they disproportionately work in insecure labor markets. Nearly 60 percent of

Women work in the informal economy, which puts them at greater risk of falling into poverty.

The pandemic also led to a steep increase in violence against women and girls. With lockdown measures in place, many women were trapped at home with their abusers, struggling to access services that were suffering from cuts and restrictions. Emerging data show that, since the outbreak of the pandemic, violence against women and girls—and particularly domestic violence—has intensified.

What Does Gender Equality Mean?

The world’s gender ratio is around 50:50, but you don’t need to be an expert to know that women are marginalized. Studies have shown that it could take a century to close the global pay gap if we (women, ladies, and girls) do not rise up to BREAK THE BIAS. Despite decades of progress, gender equality remains distant. What does gender equality truly mean? And how do we get there?

Gender is used to describe the characteristics of women and men that are socially constructed, while sex refers to those that are biologically determined. People are born female or male but learn to be girls and boys who grow into women and men. This learned behavior makes up gender identity and determines gender roles. The WH0 gender policy of 2002 defines it.

The analysis of this gender equality identifies, analyzes, and informs action to address inequalities that arise from the different roles of women and men, or the unequal power relations between them, and the consequences of these inequalities on their lives, health, and well-being. The way power is distributed in most societies means that women have less access to and control over resources to protect their health and are less likely to take part in decision-making.

Gender Equality: A Definition

Gender equality means that all genders are free to pursue whatever career, lifestyle choice, or abilities they want without discrimination. Their rights, opportunities, and access to society are not different based on their gender. Gender equality does not necessarily mean that everyone is treated exactly the same. Their different needs and dreams are valued equally. Gender equity is often discussed at the same time as gender equality for this reason. Since society has favoured men for so long, men have many advantages. Equity fills in the gaps so everyone else can “catch up” to men. It addresses discrimination and imbalances in society so that equality can become a reality.

Benefits of Gender Equality

Achieving gender equality will have significant positive impacts on the world. Here are just a few of the benefits:

Better Business

Studies have shown that gender diversity improves an organization’s innovation and productivity. When women are given equal education (and, as a result, equal job opportunities) compared to men, the businesses they join thrive.

Better Economy

When women can participate in the economy in the same way as men, the economy does better. Closing the gender pay gap plays a significant role in this. Studies have shown that if OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development) countries matched their female employment rates, the GDP would increase by $6 trillion.

Reduced Poverty

Girls and women make up the world’s poorest populations. Because they are not given equal education, job opportunities, and income, cycles of poverty repeat themselves. By giving women the same opportunities as men, it would raise entire families out of poverty and reduce the world’s poverty rate.

Better Health

Because of barriers like income and lack of education, access to good healthcare is often challenging for some women. Even without those obstacles, women are often not taken seriously. There’s also less research on conditions that mostly affect women. If gender equality becomes realized in healthcare, women would get better care, leading to improvements in a society’s overall health. Studies also show that gender equality has a link to the improvement of children's health. Women with equal education and income can care for their children better.

What Does Gender Equality Look Like?

What would gender equality mean in practice? How would the world be different? Here are just a few of the outcomes:

More girls would be educated.

A lack of education is one of the most significant results of gender inequality. If girls’ education was given the same priority as boys’, more girls would be in school. This would set them up for better job opportunities and income in the future.

More women would be in the workplace (and workplace leadership)

Currently, women are not as represented as men in the workplace, especially in leadership. If barriers to their success were removed, they would be better represented.

Families would be stronger

Men are negatively affected by gender inequality. This is especially clear when it comes to paid family leave. Because women are considered the primary caregivers for children, men are often unable to get time off. This is also true when it comes to caring for older family members. If both men and women were able to take time off for family without discrimination based on gender, it would strengthen families.

More women would participate in politics

Most political systems are still biased in favor of men. If gender equality were realized, the world would see a lot more women engaged in the political process. This includes political leadership.

How can we make gender equality a Reality?

The world is a long way from achieving gender equality. What needs to happen for it to become real? There are three essential actions:

Awareness

The first step toward any progress is awareness. If a society is not able to acknowledge gender inequality, changes will be nearly impossible. To make

To make gender equality a reality, people need to be aware of the current state of affairs and the benefits of change.

Many believe that the most significant obstacle to gender equality is unequal access to education. Without the same education as boys, girls are limited in their income and job prospects. This has a domino effect in every area of their lives. To tackle gender inequality from the start, education for girls and women needs to be a top priority.

Strong Legislative support

There are many laws and systems in place that fuel gender inequality. To break those systems down, laws that discriminate need to be repealed and new laws put in place. These laws hold organizations and institutions accountable. Governments, legislators, and activists all play a part in this process.

Knowing that biases exist is not enough. We need to take action. We must rise up and break the bias.

Let me come to a conclusion here by drawing valid support from the Bible in Hebrews 27:1–11.

Zelophehad had five daughters but no sons: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. When he died, what was to become of his property? Until these five women spoke up, the practice was that it would go to his brother; his own name and family would be lost.

So Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah went to Moses and made their case, and I think they were brilliant. Instead of a frontal assault claiming that women should have the same rights as men, they were more subtle. They put it this way: Why should our father be punished? He didn’t join in Korah’s rebellion. He has done nothing wrong other than the ordinary sinfulness common to all humans. So why his name should be erased in Israel just because he had no sons?

In staking a claim for their father, they won a right for themselves and for other women in Israel. They won the right to inherit. To be sure, it was secondary: they would inherit only if there were no sons. But it was a big step forward.

I’m struck by more than simply the cleverness of Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. I’m struck also by the responsiveness of the Lord God. When Moses laid their case before the Lord, the Lord responded clearly: They are right. Some who could be disinherited spoke up; the Lord God said, “They are right.”

Who is speaking up now, in our time and in our society, and demanding something that goes against our women or even our sense of right and wrong? If we take their demand to the Lord God, will the Lord God say to us, “They are right”?

Let us break the biases in gender equality on these seven (7) mountains of influence:

1. Education
2. Religion
3. Family
4. Government
5. Media Space
6. Arts (entertainment, celebration, sports)
7. Economy (Business and Finance)

We can have more of Prof. Florence 0bi’s (First Vice Chancellor UNICAL, Dr. Brenda Akpans: Director, Centre for Gender Development UNICAL, Dr. Ekpoanwan Otu: Provost, School of Health Information Management-UNICAL Teaching Hospital, Margaret, Aisha Buhari’s (First Lady and Advocate in the Power Chamber), Ngozi 0konjo-Iwealas: Voice for Transparency in Government and First Female African-Nigerian Director of the World Trade Organization, Folashade Esan: Bureaucrat in the Engine Room, Hadiza Balarabe: Shattering the Glass Ceiling, Hadiza Bala Usman: Retooling NPA for Efficiency Amina Mohammed, Apostle of MDGs and Climate Change, Senator Oluremi Tinubu: Championing Gender Equality,    Girl-Child     Education,    Abiodun Olujimi: An Indefatigable Female Senator, Sadiya Farouq: Disaster Manager, Bola Adesola is a woman who is passionate about women's empowerment. Aisha Yesufu: The Unrepentant Gadfly, Abike Dabiri-Erewa: Tracking Nigerians Abroad, Yewande Sadiku: Making it Easier to Do Business in Nigeria, Tiwa Savage: Her Transforming Year, Chimamanda Adichie: More Honors Trail Her, Funke Opeke: The Cable, Lady Oby Ezekwesili, Agitator for Good Governance, Ibukun Awosika: An Astute Business Woman; Juliet AnamITlah: e-Commerce Leader; Sola David-Borha: Outstanding Female Banker; and others too numerous to mention who have taken their places against all sorts of oppositions.