Women in Chevening 2016/2017: achieving empowerment in your field – politics and economy, and communication
‘I raise up my voice – not so I can shout, but so that those without a voice can be heard… we cannot succeed when half of us are held back.’ ―Malala Yousafzai, Pakistani activist for female education and the youngest-ever Nobel Prize laureate.
Giving women a fair role in society has to be a priority now and for the future. Including women in decision-making and realising their important role in society is a crucial step towards development.
In March, we celebrated International Women’s Day as a commemoration for all those women who have been treated differently during history, but also to remember all the women who have worked for the rights we have now. March is an excuse to remind everyone that even though progress has been made, there is still a lot of work to do towards gender equality.
As part of the Chevening community, I decided to take March also as my excuse to remind the world of the future female leaders rising in developing countries. I asked the women of Chevening: ‘why do you think empowering women in your field is important, and how or what do you think is the best way of achieving this empowerment?’
Politics and economy
Shwe Yinn Mar Oo, Myanmar
Undergraduate and Postgraduate titles: BA Southeast Asia and Pacific Studies, MA Political Communication Cardiff University
We talk a lot about women’s rights and gender equality these days. If we want equal rights, we need to show them that we are as capable as men. I don’t believe in demanding rights without showing why you deserve it. What we have to do is not just calling for rights and equality, but it is to show that we deserve and do not accept any gender-based excuse. Showing our capability is empowering ourselves. Showing women’s capability is empowering women.
Angela Uyen Cateriano, Peru
Medical Doctor, MSc, MBA, Master in International relations and Politics, Queen Mary University
Empowering women involves also knowing more about a woman’s body, mind, and the history and present of women’s struggles in society. For instance, the beautiful miracle of childbirth can turn into a matter of life or death. Maternal mortality is unacceptably high. About 830 women die from pregnancy or childbirth-related complications every day and almost all could have been prevented. The death of a pregnant woman or soon after childbirth is a tragedy for the family and society.
All the people involved in policy making and public health have the responsibility of looking after our women. It is well known that by providing contraception, maternal mortality can decrease by giving women more autonomy over their own bodies. Providing women with adequate health care centres with reproductive health services adapted to their needs is not only necessary, but is a duty of governments. Education is a cornerstone in this regard. Unfortunately, girls have less access to education than boys in rural areas and poor settings, they are fundamental as, at the end of the day, they are the mothers of our future and we need them.
Communication
Camila Adames, Panama
BA in Communication, MSc in Latin American Politics, University College of London
Women in journalism are often seen as merely pretty faces who ask questions. I think it is important to highlight that we can be as challenging and inquisitive as men, that we can ask the tough questions without it somehow diminishing our quality as women. The best way to do it is to encourage girls to speak up without shame. To make their voices heard.
Nora Carrillo Bermejo, Mexico
Communication, MA in Managing Cultural Policies and Projects. MA in Managing in the Creative Economy, Kingston University
Women have inspired countless cultural and art productions, now it’s time to inspire ourselves. Empowering a woman in creative fields such as art and technology unleashes an unlimited range of possibilities. We think different, and we are different, but we are worth the same. Reminding each woman that our place is next to men and not behind them is the most important way to empower them. It is OK not to be the girly stereotype of a woman and it is okay to be successful.
Olga Tsvetkova, Belarus
BA in International Journalism MBA in Media Management, Cardiff University
In Belarus, women have a large representation in journalism, but mostly within the positions of regular journalists and correspondents. As soon as it gets to the senior management positions we see very few women. Providing relevant education in digital journalism and empowering women to say the new word we can change that for the better. On a bigger scale, the whole editorial agenda could shift if there were more women in charge of it. Today’s news agenda is set by men, who decide what they publish and what they omit. Women may bring a totally different idea of how the world would look like in the news.
Daniele de Araujo Feital, Brazil
Undergraduate in Journalism and currently studying MSc Sport Business and Innovation, Loughbourough University
Sport is still a very masculine field, and participation of women at all levels struggles to gain the desired and deserved importance and respect all over the world. Inclusive initiatives since early ages, based on the idea to encourage girls in the practice of any sport is one of the fundamental strategies to insert women in sports, providing them with the opportunity to build their careers, increase equality and diminish gender prejudice and stereotypes.