March 8 and women’s rights
International Womens Day is celebrated every year on March 8. The celebration is a sign of respect for the social, political and economic achievements of women.
Mihai Pelin, 08.03.2018, 13:36
This year, International Women’s Day is marked against the backdrop of an unprecedented global movement for the rights of women, for equality and justice, says the United Nations Organization. Sexual harassment, violence and discrimination against women are frequent problems societies have to deal with. In this context, women all over the world are going to great lengths to obtain more rights and increased visibility.
The UN draws attention to the rights of women in rural areas. These women are more exposed to various shortcomings and discrimination than women in the urban areas. One of the fundamental values of the European Union is to provide equal opportunities for men and women, but there is still a long way to reach this goal. Women still earn less than men for the same job, are not as visible in politics or in leading positions as men are and they are still coping with difficulties in reaching a balance between family and professional life. In Romania there is still a lot to be done in terms of ‘gender equality’, Ana Birchall, deputy prime minister for the implementation of Romania’s strategic partnerships has recently said in Bucharest at an event organized by Business Women Forum Romania.
Ana Birchall: “There is always room for better things to happen, but I believe that important steps have been taken in Romania to provide equal chances for women, and not only at the level of declarations. We do have a law that provides, among other things, for the principle of equal work, equal pay and many other issues. I feel honored and proud to be part of the first government in Romania’s history headed by a woman.”
A European Union report estimates that it might take at least 70 years to obtain gender equality payment-wise, and 20 years for women to have at least 40% visibility in national parliaments. Another recent study shows that women apply for management positions only after 40 years of age, and figures show that only one woman as compared to 3 men, generally applies for such management jobs. Women hesitate to assume managerial responsibilities but, when going to a job interview, they present better-structured CVs and meet the job requirements better than men do.
Out of the almost 7.3 million managerial positions within the EU, only 35% are held by women. And the pay differences for the same job at European level stand at 23%. Romania fares better than the European average, with 40% women occupying managerial positions, the differences in payment being of only 5%. According to consultants, all companies should make efforts to provide equal chances to both women and men to occupy managerial positions.
