Changing Perspectives Rutendo Gwatidzo
HAPPY Women’s Month to all women. March is generally known as the month of women, and this week, we are going to celebrate International Women’s Day.
I would like to take this opportunity to celebrate some of our own heroines in Zimbabwe and in my own life. Special mention to my mother, who was and still is empowered enough to raise me to be an empowered woman.
I would like to appreciate other great women like Divine Ndhlukula, Victoria Ruzvidzo, Chipo Mtasa, Bonnie Deuschle, Edna Mukurazhizha, Memory Matimbire and Rufaro. Of course, it will take a number of books to write about the many great women among us in Zimbabwe.
What is women empowerment?
Women empowerment can be described in many ways, which all bring out the aspect of promoting self-worth within women. It is a way of promoting decision-making in women and their ability to make own choices.
Women empowerment grants women the right to influence social change for themselves and others. It is also a way of giving women access to opportunities, resources and power to control their own lives, both within and outside their homes. Sadly, the subject of women empowerment has been misunderstood by many for a long time, even up to today. Millions of people from across the world still think that women empowerment is all about controlling men.
For this reason, many women are still suffering all forms of abuse, restrictions and discrimination. We have great authors and great leaders who lived before us who realised that when you empower a woman, you empower a nation and the whole world.
They fought hard to change the narrative that women belong to the kitchen. They insisted that women must take their rightful place as influential figures in different circles. Since then, women are becoming more recognised, and this is a commendable thing. Instead of being surrounded by bitter, wounded and wasted women, the world is getting full of women who are changing the global order for the better. The global population of women is rising at an alarming rate. As such, it only makes business sense to empower women in the corporate world. Sometimes, it only takes women to understand fellow women, hence, it may be a disaster for organisations, if only men are found to be leading an entity.
Kindly note!
For a long time, women lived and died without fulfilment due to limitations placed on them. The nature of women is to be fruitful and multiply what they have. No wonder some mothers used to have 10, 12 or even more children. Some of them were treated like baby machines and in an attempt to make men happy, they did conceive many children, only to suffer rejection. A significant number of men would just fill up homes with children whom they were not able to look after. The woman would then struggle to properly feed, educate or shelter them.
The most painful part would be that of being left alone with kids after the man moves on with another woman, dies or even when the man alone would work hard but not get enough for the family.
May we all take a moment to appreciate the great leaders who lived before us and who fought to equip women to rise from the bedroom to the boardroom. The move brought healing to many, both men and women alike.
The empowerment brought about new ideas, creativity and innovation. The involvement of women brought balance in different areas of life – be it in business, health, politics or even social circles. May we all continue to allow more women to discover their purpose, bring meaning to their life and that of others. We all have a role to play in women empowerment because we are all surrounded by women in everything we do. In this month of celebrating women, be challenged to start by empowering those women around you in the best way you can.
Practical steps
The subject of empowerment may sound intimidating yet basic things can be part of the required tools. Empowerment may be in the form of supporting women around us in the things they do. Let another woman know of her value. even when she does not see it herself. Shut down negativity, and be honest, open, authentic and trustworthy as you empower women.
Listen to other women’s stories and experiences to see how best you can help them to make lemonade out of sour lemons they would have come across. I believe we all have women we should appreciate in our lives and at least this month. May we appreciate them. How about surprising someone this month?
Buy a gift or just find a way to make it known that you appreciate her and you support her in what she does. Let it start with you and let it be contagious. Many have the misconception that empowering women is about making them stronger. No, because they are already strong. It is just about changing the way their power is perceived or has been perceived.
Organisational status
The beauty about today’s corporate structure is that many women are advancing and are allowed to take up high positions. However, a significant number of them still suffer abuse and discrimination from their male counterparts. On the other hand, we also have women who miss it when they get into power; most of what they do is to prove points the wrong way.
It is sad that you even see women crushing women. It is not like they should crush men, no; it is just that they should know better not to do that, firstly, to another woman and to anyone else. We appreciate those organisations with women in top positions and we encourage those without to consider doing so.
Women, if given the room, are multipliers by nature. Giving them the chance to be effective and efficient in a business and in the economy is definitely an awesome move. All the best to all the women who are trying to make a difference.
One author once said: “It took me quite a long time to develop a voice and now that I have it, I am not going to be silent.”
May we all be inspired and provoked to make a difference in the life of at least one woman per month. By the end of the year, we would have made a huge difference in the nation and beyond. Remember to start with those around you.
Rutendo Gwatidzo is the managing consultant at The HUB HR Consultancy — a culture and change management organisation. She is a multi-award-winning leader as a consultant, speaker and mentor. She is also an author of the books “Born to Fight” and “Breaking the Silence”. Contact detail – 0714575805/ [email protected] / Rutendo Gwatidzo official fb public page. – Sunday Mail
