Paving the Way to Gender Equality in Our Modern Era

As we mark Women's History Month this year, the theme that stands out is the pursuit of equity—a quest that remains surprisingly 'innovative' despite it being 2023.

Throughout my career, I've engaged with women and girls around the globe, and I've learned a vital lesson: they hold the key to their own empowerment.

Consider the adage that criticizes judging a fish by its ability to climb a tree, leaving it to feel inept. In a similar vein, society measures women, children, BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and communities in the global south against standards set by Western White Men.

What if the ideals sold by these men don't align with our values? Should we still let them set the benchmarks for success and worth?

Challenging the Norms in Entrepreneurship

Take the realm of business startups. There's a stereotype about who should be at the helm—and it's typically men. All-women teams received a paltry 1.9% of venture capital in recent times—a decline from previous years. For Black women entrepreneurs, the figure is even more dismal at 0.34%.

This disparity may stem from a societal bias that men are more trustworthy with finances. Yet, women reinvest 90% of their earnings into their families, compared to men at 35%. This gap is evident from grass-roots microfinance initiatives to multimillion-dollar startups.

The Ingenuity of Women's Responses

Consider the example of Rain for the Sahel and Sahara, which empowers Nigerien women through savings and loans groups. These women use these resources to launch businesses that foster independence and benefit their communities.

Rather than fostering cutthroat competition, these women have chosen to create cooperative ventures that help their entire community flourish. This isn't a lack of business savvy; it's a strategic move that prioritizes communal wellbeing and represents a shift from power over to power with.

Empowering Female-Led Initiatives

Embracing women's innovations is crucial for steering us toward gender equality. Innovative measures of success are required to truly appreciate and support these efforts.

In recognition of Women's History Month and the pioneering spirit of women worldwide, consider supporting women-led ventures and organizations that champion women and girls.

Explore these opportunities for involvement:

• Girls Who Code aims to diminish the gender gap in tech and redefine the programmer stereotype.
• Bridges4Life offers vital services to the Transgender Non-Conforming Community, including support for children in foster care, young adults, and sex workers seeking a new start.
• Midwest Mujeres provides resources focused on education, employment, and mental health, aiding women facing re-entry challenges or those with a history of incarceration, with a supportive emphasis on women of color.