Devan Moonsamy

On the 8th of March the spotlight will be on International Woman’s Day. International Women’s Day was first celebrated more than a century ago in the 1911. The theme for the year 2020 is, I am Generation Equality: Realising Women’s Rights. According to the UN Women website, the theme is aligned with UN Women’s new multigenerational campaign, Generation Equality, which marks the 25th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. Adopted in 1995 at the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, China, the Beijing Platform for Action is recognized as the most progressive roadmap for the empowerment of woman and girls everywhere.

The aim of the year 2020 is to advance gender equality worldwide. It is also a time for the global community to take stock of the steps and progress made in addressing concerns around rights for women.

Gender equality is essential in economies and in communities to ensure we thrive. But where do we start with equality? Do we wait till we get to the workplace or does it start at home?

It starts at home.

Gender equality starts at home and families must be at the forefront of change. Whether it is breaking down gender stereotypes to sharing responsibilities, educating children about gender equality starts within the family. Here are some ways to start the transformation:

  • Let’s start the conversation in our home. Talk to your kids about gender equality and women’s rights. Talking to kids will not just allow them to be informed but also ensure they are familiar with what needs to be done to reach a world with equality and women’s rights.
  • Distribute the chores to all children. We shouldn’t raise our kids with the mindset that only females do the dishes and only males will carry in the basket of washing. Children must be given equal responsibility to understand how even in the world both male and female must work together to achieve a better world.
  • Break stereotypes. Stop telling kids that pink is for girls and blue is for boys. Stop telling kids that girls clean up and boys don’t have to help doing this. Create a home were your kids are free from fitting into boxes that society has built to dictate how men and woman traditionally exist for years.

This does not imply that if we do all of this, we will ensure we reach gender equality. But buy establishing the change we will start the conversation and awareness on the long journey we have ahead of us to achieve gender equality and woman rights.

Devan Moonsamy is the CEO of ICHAF Training Institute. ICHAF offers SETA-approved training in business skills, computer use, and soft skills. Devan specialises in conflict and diversity management, and regularly conducts seminars on these issues for corporates. To book a seminar with Devan or for other training courses, please use the contact details below.

Tel: 011 262 2461 | Email: devan@ichaftraining.co.za | Website: ichaftraining.co.za | devan-moonsamy.com