This article will show how 5 different men from 5 different countries see, think or feel about the current situation of women in their homelands
EstoniaEstonia is a country with a rich history and culture, and women have played a vital role in shaping the country’s development. Estonian women have achieved notable progress in various fields, including politics, education, and employment. However, there are still some challenges that need to be addressed to achieve gender equality and empower women fully.
One of the significant achievements of Estonian women is their high level of educational attainment. Women in Estonia are highly educated, with almost 60% of women aged 25-34 having a tertiary degree. This educational achievement has contributed significantly to the country’s economic development, as women’s participation in the workforce is critical for sustainable economic growth.
Another significant milestone for Estonian women was the election of Kaja Kallas as the country’s first female prime minister. This achievement is a testament to the progress that Estonian women have made in politics, and it is a source of inspiration for future generations of women who aspire to leadership roles.
Despite these achievements, there are still some significant challenges that Estonian women face. One of the most pressing issues is gender-based violence, which is a pervasive problem in Estonia. According to the Estonian Women’s Shelters Union, one in five Estonian women has experienced physical or sexual violence. The government has taken steps to address this issue, such as enacting legislation to protect victims of domestic violence and providing support services for victims. However, more needs to be done to eliminate gender-based violence and ensure the safety and security of Estonian women.
Another significant challenge that Estonian women face is the gender pay gap. Women in Estonia earn on average 20% less than men, which is higher than the European Union average. The government has taken steps to address this issue, such as implementing equal pay legislation and promoting gender equality in the workplace. However, more needs to be done to eliminate the gender pay gap and ensure that women are paid fairly for their work.
In conclusion, women in Estonia have made significant progress in various fields, but there are still challenges that need to be addressed to achieve full gender equality. The government and civil society organizations must work together to eliminate gender-based violence and the gender pay gap, and promote gender equality and women’s empowerment in all aspects of Estonian society. This International Women’s Day is an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of Estonian women and to renew our commitment to achieve gender equality and empower women in Estonia and around the world.
And finally, to end all of this, here is a short poem I wrote about women: I like women, yes I do!
I like women, how about you? 😏
Spain
Spanish people are commonly described by others as really open-minded which should mean that we had advanced a lot in everything related to feminism and it is true that things have changed a lot in the last 50 years of our country (especially because we were living in a dictatorship until 1975), but when you look at some statistics there are still several things that need to change.
In 2022 forty-nine women were murdered due to gender violence and 93.924 calls were made due to violence to the women’s service telephone number (016). However, these numbers show a different reality than the one you can see on the streets of Spain, I would like to talk about my personal experiences while living in Spain.
I have been raised in a house by the strongest woman I know, my mother, she used to take care of three kids, including me as well. My father got involved in childcare but not that much in the general housework. I used to think that the reason behind this is his profession (he used to work in healthcare), but actually my mum also used to struggle working two jobs at the same time. This situation occurs in almost all of my friends’ homes even nowadays. Thankfully I think this situation and other similar ones are not that common among the new generation.
Based on my personal experience people are also affected by being raised in a home that represents good equality values which results in the long run by surrounding themselves with people that has the same core values as them. Unfortunately, not all of us are blessed with this great upbringing, there are people who did not had this luck and they grow up thinking that some behaviors (like the man not helping with the housework) are normal and they should allow them to happen.
Personally, I think that people need to fight against the injustices that are committed in the name of gender violence by forming an inclusive government, having parental education and funding a union from all of the people who are able to fight against these injustices.
Slovakia
On the occasion of the international women’s day, let’s have a look at how the lives of the women of Slovakia are, how they are viewed and what adversity they might face. Slovakia has come quite a long way in terms of gender equality, but there is still progress to be made.
While the notion of women to marry and become housewives was abandoned decades ago, there still remained gender based societal roles and jobs and the effects are still seen to this day. Even though women don’t need to marry and have children, there still remains pressure to do so and if they do get married there are still quite common expectations of women to be the ones responsible for the house chores, cooking, cleaning and so on. Being a good cook still remains as one of the main expectations of women before marriage. When it comes to having children and becoming a mother, they receive a paid maternity leave from the state, however, they are often expected to stay at home and be the primary child carer afterwards. It is important to mention that there is also domestic violence towards women, where around 5 percent of women are reported to have some degree of verbal or physical violence from their partners.
In jobs it’s visible through percentages of women occupying historically considered men only roles. The place where it stands out the most is politics. Slovaks elected its current first ever women president and the criticism of her is usually hard to navigate, as in what is actual criticism of her as a politician and a leader and what is based on her being a woman. After the last parliamentary elections women hold less than 25 percent of seats in parliament, while the women represent more than half of the whole population of Slovakia. In terms of salary there still remains a gender-based pay gap, with Slovakia having one of the highest in Europe.
I know that I mentioned mostly the negatives and it’s very important to acknowledge all the positive progress that has been achieved so far, that women’s lives, their independence and equality has greatly improved, but I felt that it was important to point out the negatives that still remain so that the progress doesn’t stop now and women can feel free, independent, safe and are appreciated and celebrated for a whole year, not just for one day.
Lastly I would like to mention that Slovakian women are considered among the most beautiful in Europe, but while appreciating their beauty let’s not forget to appreciate all of their other qualities as well and most importantly view and treat them as fellow human beings, rather than just pretty looking objects or prized possessions to have
First of all, Happy Women’s Day! I will give you some information about my own country’s perspective about women.
Turkey
I would like to explain the development of women’s rights in my country in a very short way. With the end of the Ottoman period, the Turkish lands gained civilization and democracy. In the state of the Republic of Turkey under the leadership of our founder Atatürk, the Civil Code of 1926 granted wider rights to Turkish women than Western countries. Women gained an equal status with men in family and society and the first International Women’s Congress in the world was gathered in Istanbul under the auspices of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk on 18 April 1935.In addition to that Mr. Tansu Çiller, who continued his duty as Prime Minister between 1993-1996, is the first and only female prime minister in Turkey’s political history.
In the last 100 years, Turkish women have gained many successes to contribute to the development of our country in education, science, military, political and many different fields. They take part in the state administration and carry the country to an enlightened future.
However, in recent years, many women have been murdered in my country. I think that less care has been given to women’s rights and freedom than in the 1970’s. In 2022, 334 women were killed by men and 245 women were found dead in suspicious ways.
Despite these pessimistic numbers, I can guarantee that we as Turk men took care of women in the same way as Atatürk. We keep the Turkish woman on our hands,especially our mothers, sisters and spouses, who provide peace and fertility for us. In every environment, we defend the civil, political and cultural rights of women.We also remember with respect and love of those who, who made a sacrifice for our country!
France In France, women have made great steps in terms of rights and freedom over the past decades. However, there are still many things that need to be changed to ensure true gender equality.
During the past century, the status of women in France has changed significantly. Women were granted the right to vote in 1944, and since then they have experienced many legal and professional advances. Abortion was authorized in 1975 and may soon become part of our constitution.
In 2012, the parity act was passed to ensure greater representation of women in French politics. In 2019, the equal pay act was put in place to combat wage discrimination between men and women. France has also taken measures to combat violence against women.
However, challenges remain. Women remain under-represented in positions of leadership and political power. Although there has been progress, women still represent only 42% of deputies and only 7% of mayors in cities with more than 10,000 inhabitants. Women also face discrimination in the labour market, where they earn on average less than men for the same work.
Violence against women is also a major problem in France. According to government figures, a woman is killed every other day by her partner or ex-partner. Although many measures have been taken to combat violence, there are still many things to be done to protect women and children who are victims of domestic violence.
In conclusion, the status of women in France presents both significant advances and important challenges. Although women have gained many rights and freedom, many things need to be done to ensure true gender equality. France must continue to work to combat discrimination and violence against women and to ensure that women are fairly represented in all areas.
