Today is International women’s day, a day where we celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. But also a day which marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity.

This years theme is #BeBoldForChange. A challenge for all to take a bold step towards achieving gender parity.

Being a mom to four girls it was obvious from an early age that it would be a fight to get them to not fall into a stereotypical box labelled “roles for woman.” That from school sports to toy adverts everything seemed to try and define them from an early age. 

I didn’t want this for them I wanted them to know that with hard work and determination anything was possible. That gender roles were a creation of society, not a must be. That being a woman is wonderful thing but should never be the reason to allow the world to treat you unequally.  

It’s far from easy being a woman in today’s society, whilst the barriers are falling they are taking their time. Woman are taking some of the top jobs in this country we only have to look at our current prime minister yet many woman are still having to make sacrifices that men would never consider.

Have you ever asked a man if he wants a “career or a family?” Probably not because for men the two are not mutually exclusive. Yet for a woman they often are.  

#BeBoldForChange. 

I want my daughters to be bold in all they do. To reach for their dreams, to become who they wish to be, not what society tries to conform them too.

I want a world where violence and sexual assault is never about what the girl wore or how much she drank.

A world where who they love is not judged. Where love is love regardless of sexuality.

I want my children to grow up in a world where every girl has the right to an education. 

A world where no man ever has the right to beat his wife and marriage is about love not ownership.

A world where no girl is at risk of Female genital mutilation for the illusion of purity. 

A world of equal pay and equal respect.

A world with no gender bias. 

It’s quite symbolic that a 100 years on we are still in need of an International Women’s Day it actually speaks volumes. 

That it is definitely time to #BeBoldForChange

I hope and pray that in less than a 100 years time women will be able to look back and see what we have achieved whilst living in a world of gender equality. Where gender parity is a given and a world where all are treated equal with respect and dignity regardless of their gender. 

Until that day 
#BeBoldForChange