Our role in this challenging world

The world is in trouble and we ain’t doing so well. Fanaticism, war, terrorism, kidnappings, beheading’s…. when will it all stop? Perhaps it’s time we, women come to terms with our role in this challenging world, get involved, lead communities, societies and nations. The current leaders are not doing such an exemplary job at the moment.

• Deepening crisis in the Middle East
• The rapid growth of life ended drugs such as Methamphetamine
• More violence on city streets than ever before
• Family break-down
• Divorce rate increasing
• Increased levels of depression and anxiety, particularly in youth
• Fragile, fragmented world that seems to be struggling

What does it take to lead well?

• Focus, direction
• True grit
• Emotional Intelligence
• Compassion
• A strong sense of self
• Optimism and a love of life
• Integrity and ability to follow through
• Sense of humour
• Self-Insight
• Trusting and a person people get on with

Collaboration, Teamwork, Together

Whilst the focus here is on the role women can and need to play in our challenging world, I do not believe that women can make a significant difference themselves. Alone! I stand for collaboration, teamwork and working together, both genders, alongside each other to help gently steer the world tide of dysfunction, fanaticism and intolerance.

Interesting Statistics about Women in Politics Today

• Globally women hold less than 22% of seats in national parliaments
• Only ten women have served as heads of state and 15 as heads of government (As at Jan 2015)
• The Australian Institute of Company Directors 2014 report shows that 17.6 per cent of ASX 200 board directors are women
• Of all the people in Parliament in the world today, only 13% are women
• Bronwyn Bishop speaker of the House of Representatives is the second longest serving women in the Commonwealth Parliament
• Senator Sarah Hanson – Young (Green party member, is the youngest at 25)
• Indigenous women remain under-represented in all state and territory parliaments

This power imbalance cuts across all sectors in every country in the world resulting in a ‘skewed’ political society that affects critically needed balance at all levels of society.

http://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary

The Problem with the Gender Imbalance

To enjoy a balanced and fair society, positions and roles need to be equally distributed between female and male genders. As soon as one gender dominates the other, this balance becomes skewed, and vital parts or considerations of a just and sustainable society based on inclusion, balance and equality, become compromised.

The role of Emaline Pankhurst in her commitment to attaining the women’s vote in Britain is a case in point. At the time (and many would argue not little has changed) her vision was to have greater equality and representation of women at all levels of society through ensuring each was able to vote. The fact that women have only been able to vote in the last 130 years is testament to the fact that females have been regarded as less important as contributors to society than their male counter-parts. This has created this societal bias I have described, which I believe has made significant impact on our world today.

There are increasing calls for women’s equal rights and opportunities in all areas of political life which is re-affirmed by the United Nations call to achieve gender quality and the empowerment of women.

However, due to the slow rate of women in business and politics, many organisations and countries have adopted some form of gender quota to increase women in their ranks.

Stand up and be counted and take ourselves seriously

Women play a significant role in creating a more just and compassionate society and have a role to play in helping steer the world out of its modern day complexities and multi-layered complications. Inch by inch, patch by patch, we can weave a huge blanket over the big wide world to turn the tide of the complications our world today faces.

Make impact, keep your foot on the gas, believe in you. Look at ways in which you can help in little and big ways, and believe that even as one woman, you can make a difference.

A world run by women will be a better world, and whilst our generation may not have 50% (equal balance) of women at the top of every industry or government in my life time, let’s prepare our daughters to do so.