By Sr. Talisha Nadukudiyil SD
The theme for the International Women’s day 2018, ‘Press for Progress’, invites us to continue our efforts for the cause of gender parity more ardently and enthusiastically.
It is a fact that there is a gradual progress in the attitude and mindset of people towards women and their role in the progress of society. Yet, gender inequalities remain deeply entrenched in every society.
Women lack access to decent work and face occupational segregation and gender wage gaps. They are under-represented in political and economic decision-making processes.
Sometimes it is an irony that women are equally responsible for all privation that a woman has to face. There are women who are a travesty to their own kind and do not let the other women come out from the stereotypes and taboos; so, an inclusive transformation in the way of our collective thinking is important. Through purposeful collaboration, each one of us can help women advance and unleash the limitless potential offered to the development of the society and nation.
St John Paul II wrote on the occasion of the Marian Year 1998, “the Church desires to give thanks to the Most Holy Trinity for the ‘mystery of woman’ and for every woman for that which constitutes the eternal measure of her feminine dignity,…in and through her that the greatest event in human history– the incarnation of God Himself-was accomplished.”
Jesus chose a woman to be the person to whom he first appeared after Resurrection. In the book of Esther, Mordecai appeals to Esther to use her power and influence to save her people. The role of Christian women, in times like these, is to use our power and influence as torchbearers, just as did Esther.
In light of our ongoing efforts to encourage women and girls in the Church and the world, we celebrate Women’s Day and praise God for women like Esther, Judith, Mary Magdalene and others who made a great sacrifice and took a risk at a time when women were just treated as less fortunate in the society.
God has mandated us to be helpers and given us all the tools that we need to make the world a better place.
Wish you all a very vibrant celebration of International Women’s Day!
(The author is the national secretary of the Council for Women of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India, New Delhi).