International Women's Day - We need to talk

“Now, more than ever, there’s a strong call-to-action to press forward and progress gender parity. There’s a strong call to #PressforProgress motivating and uniting friends, colleagues and whole communities to think, act and be gender inclusive” (International Women’s Day website)

What a great opportunity for us to focus attention on the power of conversations as an enabler for change. 

I have just completed the #PressforProgress ‘Choose Your Action Survey’ and committed to challenge stereotypes and bias. Part of that includes questioning assumptions about women, challenging statements that limit women, and always using inclusive language.

My story starts at home with my 11 year old daughter. As a mother, I am very aware that the way we have conversations every day as a family has a profound impact on her experience of the world. 

We are mindful to ask questions when we hear her say “I can’t”. We hold each other to account when one of us says ‘he’ when they could say ‘he or she’. We make sure we listen to whatever she has to say so that she feels her views are valued. We share stories about women to help inspire her. And we strive to support her grow the self-confidence, belief and resilience to follow her hopes and dreams.

And it’s not only our daughter that we have these kinds of conversations with. We have them with our two sons too. We want our children to collectively grow up in an inclusive environment; one where there is mutual respect, an experience of gender parity and equality. We seek to notice and be aware of the kinds of conversations we have with each one of them; conversations that we hope will set them up to be strong advocates for change.

It’s tough. We make mistakes. And my children often think I’m crazy (like when I set up a re-contracting conversation for how we use our phones as a family…wrote notes to prepare for it…was told by one of them it was a stupid idea…and as a result I walked out in tears). 

However, I strongly believe the kinds of conversations we are having at home with the next generation are key. My on-going mission, with the help of all the other wonderful people surrounding them, is to nurture my children’s skills in being able to ask great questions, to listen and not speak over each other, to express their views, and to be able to challenge and disagree (which they appear to be doing a little too well of late!). 

My wish and hope is that they will go out into the world equipped and confident to have conversations that can make a difference. Re-shaping conversations at home are my contribution to #PressforProgress.