Podcast_Women

Feminism is about fighting for gender equality and women's rights. Victim-blaming in cases of sexual assault is harmful and makes it harder for victims to come forward. Women face issues like the second shift, catcalling, and limited opportunities in leadership positions. The pay gap, lack of research on women's health, and access to affordable hygiene products and birth control are also concerns. Education, mentorship, inclusive workplaces, transparency in pay, and policies promoting gender equality can help address these issues. Women in leadership roles bring diverse perspectives and serve as role models. Companies should be held accountable for equal pay policies and more funding and research should focus on women's health. Access to hygiene products and birth control should be affordable and education on these issues is important. Hello and welcome back to Fight Like a Woman. I'm your host Ines and today's topic is Injustice is Woman's Face. I'm here with Mathilde and Violette and we're going to talk about it. Hey! Hi guys! Let's talk about feminism and its definition. So Mathilde, you've written about this. Can you tell us what it means? Sure. Feminism is about fighting for women's rights and making sure men and women are treated equally. Basically, feminists want both genders to have the same opportunities and respect. Unfortunately, some people think feminism means we want women to be more privileged than men. But really, we just want equality. For instance, women shouldn't have to put their careers on hold just to take care of their kids or get paid less for doing the same job as men. Exactly. Another big issue is victim-blaming. Well, especially in cases of sexual assault. Violette, can you explain this? Sure. Victim-blaming is when people blame the person who was insulted instead of the attacker. They might ask things like, what were you wearing? Why are you out so late? Instead, I'm focusing on the attacker. It's really harmful and makes it harder for victims to come forward. Yeah, it's awful and it just makes things worse because it puts all the blame on the victim instead of the person who did the assault. It's like instead of supporting the person who went through something traumatic, society is making them feel guilty for it. It's really sad and disgusting. Unfortunately, this is one of the many issues women face. Another one is how exhausting it is for women to balance so many roles, which can limit their freedom and their opportunities. This is often called the second shift. Exactly. Women work all day and then come home to do even more work with house chores and taking care of the family. It's really tiring and unfair. They basically have to work two jobs, one paid and one unpaid, and it's expected from them. And then there's catcalling and harassment when women are out in public. It makes simple activities like walking down the street stressful and can make women feel unsafe. It's like women have to be on guard all the time. So Mathilde, you're talking about catcalling. How do you think does it impact women on a daily basis? Catcalling is more than just annoying. It can be really frightening and demeaning. It makes women feel like they're being watched and judged, which can be really unsettling. It's not just a compliment. It's about power and making women feel unsafe in public spaces. Right. And it affects how women move through the world. Some women change their routes, avoid areas and even change their clothing to try and avoid harassment. It's the constant low-level stress that men often don't have to think about. And this also ties into the broader issue of safety. Women are often told to take precautions and to avoid danger, like not walking alone at night. But the focus should be on preventing harassment and violence in the first place, right? Exactly. It shouldn't be up to women to change their habits to avoid being harassed or attacked. We need to change society so that this kind of behavior isn't tolerated in the first place. And part of that is having more visible consequences for the harassers. If catcalling and other forms of harassment are treated seriously and punished appropriately, it sends a message that it's not acceptable behavior. Thank you so much for talking about this. So moving on to leadership. There's a quite a small percentage of women in top positions, like CEOs or presidents. Why do you think that is, Mathilde? There are a lot of reasons. Stereotypes make people think women aren't good leaders and there's also barriers that make it harder for women to get promoted. The lack of representation keeps the myth alive that leadership is a man's job. When young girls don't see women in these roles, they might think it's not possible for them to achieve these positions. And the media doesn't help. Women are often shown in stereotypical roles, which affects how young girls see their own potential and limits their dreams. If all you see are men in powerful roles and women in supportive ones, it can be hard to imagine yourself breaking out of that mold. And what about the pay gap? Women often earn less than men for the same work, which is really wrong. This financial inequality affects women in a lot of ways, from the ability to save money to retirement security. And during job interviews, women might be unfairly asked about their plans for having kids, which can affect their chance of getting hired. It's illegal in many places, but still happens. This kind of discrimination can prevent women from getting the job they deserve or advancing in their careers. Health is not a big issue. There aren't enough studies focused on women's health, which leads to misdiagnosis and bad treatment. Conditions like endometriosis are often ignored and misunderstood, causing women to suffer for years without appropriate treatment. I actually went to a conference on women's health and research recently. So it was about how medical research is less done on women and how much of an impact that has, such as undiagnosed female diseases and the fact that women get so much misdiagnosed. What is really shocking is that studies show that women are more likely to get antidepressants prescribed, whereas men get painkillers. Isn't that just outrageous? It was also about how expensive hygiene products are and the lack of affordable birth control. Many women can't afford these essentials, which affects their health and dignity. It's ridiculous that something so basic is really like a luxury. And women are often not taken seriously by doctors. Their pain and symptoms are sometimes dismissed, leading to serious health problems. This lack of attention can lead to misdiagnosis, delayed treatment and inadequate care. Women's health issues need to be given the same level of importance as men's. Education and empowerment are crucial. We need to encourage more girls to get into STEM and make sure they have access to good education. Giving young women the knowledge and skills they need is the key to breaking these barriers. If girls see that they can be scientists, engineers or leaders, they're more likely to pursue those paths. Absolutely. Educating the next generation and making sure they have equal opportunities is so important. Empowerment also means giving women the tools to stand up for themselves and demand the respect and opportunities they deserve. We also need to teach boys and men about these issues. They should understand the challenges women face and how they can be allies. Equally benefits everyone, not just women. And on a practical level, men can support gender equality by sharing domestic duties, advocating for their female colleagues and calling out sexism when they see it. It's about creating an environment where everyone can thrive, regardless of gender. Let's circle back to leadership and representation. Why do you think it's important to have more women in leadership roles? Having women in leadership roles can bring diverse perspectives and experience to the table, which is beneficial for any organization. Women leaders can also serve as role models for younger women and girls, showing them that they can achieve those positions too. And it's not just about having women in any leadership role, but in influential and decision-making positions. Women should be CEOs, board members and political leaders. When women are in these roles, they can advocate for policies and practices that promote gender equality. We have seen some progress in certain areas, but there's still a long way to go. How do we encourage more women to step into these roles? Mentorship is a big factor. Women who have succeeded in these areas can mentor others, helping them navigate the challenges and providing support. Organizations can also create programs that specifically aim to develop and promote women leadership. And workplaces need to be more inclusive and supportive. Flexible working hours, parents' relief and a commitment to diversity and inclusion can make a big difference. It's also about changing the culture to be more supportive of women's ambitions. Speaking of workplaces, let's discuss the pay gap more. How can we address this persistent issue? Transparency is a big part of the solution. Companies should be open about their pay scales and conduct regular audits to ensure there's no discrimination. Policies that promote equal pay for equal work are essential, and companies should be held accountable if they're not following these policies. And we need to tackle the root causes like occupational segregation, where women are often in lower paid jobs and industries. Encouraging more women into higher paying fields like STEM and ensuring they have the support to advance can help close the gap. And what about health issues? There's a lot to unpack here, from lack of research to misdiagnosis. But how can we improve women's health care? More funding and research focus on women's health issues are crucial. For too long, women's health has been underfunded and understudied. Conditions that predominantly affect women need to be given the same priority as other health issues. And medical professionals need better training to understand and recognize these conditions. Women's pain and symptoms should be taken seriously, and there needs to be more awareness about conditions like endometriosis, which can be incredibly debilitating. And access to affordable hygiene products and birth control is another huge issue. How can we make this more accessible and affordable? Policies that provide free or subsidized hygiene products and birth control can make a big difference. These are basic necessities, and no one should have to go without them because they can't afford them. Education is also important. People need to understand why these products are essential and the impact that lack of access can have on women's health and well-being. Advocacy and public awareness can drive policy changes to ensure better access. Let's shift to education and empowerment. How can we get more girls interested in STEM fields? For those of you who might not know, STEM stands for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. It starts with an early education. Girls need to see that STEM is for them too. This means having role models, inclusive curriculums, and opportunities to explore these fields from a young age. Schools and communities should provide programs and resources that encourage girls to pursue STEM interests. We also need to address the stereotype that STEM is for boys. Media, parents, and educators should all play a part in breaking down these stereotypes and encouraging girls to follow their interests. Scholarships and support networks can also help girls and women pursue STEM education and careers. Empowerment is broader than just education though. It's about giving women the tools to advocate for themselves and each other. How can we foster this? Building strong communities and networks where women can support each other is key. This can include professional organizations, mentorship programs, and social groups. Women should have spaces where they can share experiences, advice, and encouragement. And education around rights and advocacy is important too. Women need to know their rights in the workplace, in healthcare, and in society. Workshops, seminars, and online resources can provide this knowledge and empower women to stand up for themselves and others. We've covered a lot today. From the challenges women face to the steps we can take to address them, it's very clear that there's still a lot of work to be done. But by raising awareness and taking actions, we can make a difference. I truly believe it. Definitely. It's about creating a society of equality and respect where everyone has the same opportunities and is treated with the same dignity. And it's about persistence. Change doesn't happen overnight. But with continuous effort and commitment, we can move towards a more equal and just society. Thank you Mathilde and thank you Violette for this insightful discussion and for being here with me. To our listeners, thank you for tuning in to Fight Like a Woman. And remember, every action counts and together we can create a better future for everyone. That's all for today. See you next time!