It’s 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐖𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧’𝐬 𝐃𝐚𝐲!, and I find the theme for this year, “Break the Bias”, quite interesting.
You see, along with the celebrations that characterize this season, it is important that we all look inwards, particularly us women, to identify and actively address the #biases, #stereotypes, #sentiments, and #self-sabotaging mindsets that limit us.
At the corporate level, it is essential that we do not limit the theme of this year’s #internationalwomensday2022 to photo ops and women events, rather we should actively institutionalize practices that truly promote balance, equity, and equality, across board.
Truth is, in some form or fashion, we all hold certain #beliefs, #biases, #stereotypes, #sentiments, and #mindsets that blur our outlook on life and limit our experiences.
And while some of these biases are popular and can be easily spotted, others are quite subtle.
For example . . .
The bias that married women shouldn’t earn more than their husbands.
The bias not to employ newly married or pregnant women, for obvious reasons.
The bias that women are natural nurturers, hence they are better suited to tend to their newborns after childbirth.
The bias that do not accommodate paternity leave, subtly suggesting that it is not the man’s responsibility to tend to his newborn(s).
The bias that women are not suited for certain leadership positions (HR and Admin. roles were not exclusively predestined for women).
The bias that women are too emotional and should therefore not be allowed in classified spaces or be involved in classified decision-making.
The bias that female professionals are not as competent as their male counterparts (I’m aware this plays out a lot in the medical and engineering fields).
The bias that women are only seen, but not heard in certain religious settings.
The bias that females in the healthcare space are better as nurses and midwives than as doctors or surgeons.
The bias that single females do not make responsible tenants.
The bias that, that slow driver or rough driver is a woman.
The bias that a woman cannot lead Nigeria.
The bias that it’s unusual for a female to go by the name, Ayo (𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙚, 𝙡𝙚𝙩’𝙨 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙥 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙪𝙡𝙖𝙧 𝙤𝙣𝙚 😃).
The bias that women, particularly single women who are doing well, are not directly responsible for their upward mobility – that there has to be some guy somewhere, bankrolling their lifestyle.
I remember a while back when I just relocated, I had put up some beautiful photos when someone randomly commented saying, “𝘽𝙖𝙗𝙚, 𝙮𝙤𝙪’𝙧𝙚 𝙜𝙡𝙤𝙬𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤, 𝙨𝙚𝙚 𝙖𝙨 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙙𝙚𝙮 𝙗𝙖𝙡𝙡, 𝘽𝙧𝙤. 𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙧𝙮𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙜𝙖𝙖𝙣”
While I accepted the compliment, I couldn’t but notice the bias behind the statement – “𝘽𝙧𝙤. 𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙧𝙮𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙜𝙖𝙖𝙣”.
The bias that automatically attributed my glow to the sponsorship of some man.
Why is it hard to understand that a woman can have a good life outside of a man?
Anyways, now, when people randomly ask me, “𝙝𝙤𝙬 𝙞𝙨 𝘽𝙧𝙤.?”
I have learned to simply respond with, “𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙘𝙝 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢? 𝙗𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙄 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙚𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢 – 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙚𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙛𝙪𝙡 𝙗𝙧𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙨” 😆🤣
𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐖𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧’𝐬 𝐃𝐚𝐲!
𝐊𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐢𝐚𝐬, 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐲! ✌️✌️
BTW, what are your thoughts on the theme, ‘Break the Bias’?
What other biases are you aware of?
Listen to this OYU podcast episode with Ewaoluwa Ojo, where we discuss “How to build wholesome Identity” that is free from biases, stereotypes, sentiments, and self-limiting mindsets.
Ayokanmi
Ayokanmi Oluwabuyide is a Personal Development Enthusiast who hopes to inspire young adults to live their best lives without compromising their individuality. She expresses this passion through her Own Your Upgrade blog and podcast.