What Makes Someone a Woman?
A new debate has emerged this year in our culture over the question of what makes someone a woman. It was triggered by right-wing political commentator Matt Walsh who, in an attempt to undermine the movement to affirm trans women’s identities, asked person after person—politicians, experts, and medical professionals—“what is a woman?”
These questions are not only wrong, they are dangerous. They play to the most rooted prejudices and misinformation about what it means to be female. This is the reason it is so important for organizations to continue to take steps toward inclusion of women in the workplace and beyond. We know that companies that support and empower women have higher productivity, better business outcomes, and more engaged employees.
The fact is that women bring a wide range of valuable skills to the workforce and contribute to more inclusive, sustainable economic growth. The world needs more women in leadership positions, but the current system of gender discrimination is preventing them from getting there. This is why it is crucial to support women in the workplace by debiasing their hiring and promotions processes, inspiring and equipping them to curb bias and practice allyship, and unlocking their power as managers to influence careers and team culture.
We also need to support the broader community of women—inside and outside of the workplace—to continue fighting for their rights and improving their lives. They deserve to have the same opportunities that men do. In addition, women and girls are disproportionately affected by poverty and inequality. This is why it’s so critical that we invest in education and skills development for girls and women in the developing world, as well as provide access to financial services to enable them to start businesses and make entrepreneurship their own.
Throughout history, women have been seen as the weaker sex. But in many vital respects, they are actually far stronger than men. For example, they live seven years longer than men worldwide, and they are more likely to survive a serious illness. Women are also more creative. They tend to enjoy a wider variety of activities—like art classes and dance lessons—and they are more likely to collaborate with other people, which is a big benefit in the workplace.
And finally, it is important to recognize that the changes that have occurred for women over the past seven generations—in family life, in religion, in government, in employment, and in their day-to-day lives—did not happen by accident. They were the result of hard work by women themselves. They gathered together in women’s clubs and organizations, created petition drives and lobbying efforts, wrote articles and books, and used their voices to demand change. They did all of this because they knew that their lives mattered. So, the next time you are feeling down, remember that there is no reason to think that being a woman is a burden—it’s a gift! This is why International Women’s Day matters.