“IT’S so amazing how this world was made, I wonder if God is a woman.” A hit song by Shaggy, but also a testament to the woman’s power, strength, and impact. There is hardly anyone who can say that their life has not been influenced by the strength of a woman. Whether it is a mother, a teacher, an aunt, a partner, a mentor, or a grandmother, the presence and impact of the woman cannot be denied.

From the home to the helm of government, the woman has risen to every challenge, but the journey to these heights of success has, in parts, been less than scenic. There was a time when society dictated that a woman’s place was in the home. There was a time when a woman performing the same job as a man received less remuneration. There was a time when certain career fields were regarded as being above the capacity of women, and the list goes on. Regardless of what the shackles were, the woman was able to demonstrate that she would not be confined by flawed perceptions of her strength, but not without always having to fight relentlessly to prove her worth.

The theme for this year’s International Women’s Day, Give To Gain, highlights the reciprocal benefits of supporting women. The theme is a call for all sectors to acknowledge that when facilities are put in place to advance women’s competencies, the reciprocal benefit is success for all. From community to corporate, women are high-yielding investments, and we only stand to gain as organisations and as a country when meaningful action is taken to improve women’s human capital. Jamaica has made significant strides toward gender equality by developing policies and establishing departments and ministries to advocate for and represent women’s interests and rights. So yes, legislatively, women are represented, and we have seen the products of some of these legislative efforts; however, there are still critical areas that require significant time and resources to yield meaningful gains.

Jamaica continues to record high rates of violence against women, whether in the physical space or in the digital realm. Intimate partner violence against women continues to present alarming records, and abuse of young girls continues to present worrying trends. Also on the rise is digital abuse. Even more alarming, many of these incidents still go unreported. The violence prevention campaigns are appreciated, but we can agree that more consistent grassroots community interventions are needed to break the cultural beliefs that continue to influence violence against women and girls. The results of these assaults on women are the rippling costs on healthcare, judiciary, security, economic productivity, and threats to mental health. It is the collective view that more must be given to eliminate violence against women. Greater collaboration among relevant entities is needed to strengthen efforts to create a safe space for women to thrive. The more women fall victim to violence, the greater the negative impact on our culture and sustainable development ambitions.

Economic inequality is another area that must be addressed to achieve improved outcomes. We are operating in a workforce where women in Jamaica are less likely than men to benefit from economic participation and opportunities, and hence, logically, the gender pay gap still exists in some sectors. All this is happening in a space where there are more women with higher education qualifications in the workforce than men. It is, therefore, not surprising that many women migrate each year in search of better economic opportunities, which significantly contributes to the brain drain we are currently haemorrhaging from. The bitter truth is that we cannot blame them for taking steps towards their own economic upliftment elsewhere because, as a country, we have not fully eradicated the systemic and cultural deterrents that continue to block women’s progress.

While we acknowledge that the Government and respective agencies must actively play their part in collaborating and investing in women’s human capital, we must also address the role of women in fulfilling this year’s International Women’s Day theme. Women, too, have a responsibility to give for their own gain. There is always room for more women who have successfully navigated the terrains of difficulties to support other women who are aiming to make their contribution to nation-building in their respective fields. The experienced and accomplished woman can make a significant contribution to the sustainability of women’s progress. Her guidance and knowledge are beneficial to the upcoming female stalwarts in the community, at work, in the church, or just about anywhere her influence extends. Kudos to the women who have taken other women under their wings and made it their responsibility to give of their time, support, and direction. This is the circle of strength needed to build on the progress made and to carve a new path for future success for women.

As we celebrate another International Women’s Day, let us be reminded that a mindset of generosity and collaboration must be fully embraced as a commitment to supporting the development of women, and thereby cultivating a socio-economic culture of intentional multiplication. Happy International Women’s Day!

Onnica Morris is the head of the School Counselling Department at Sam Sharpe Teachers’ College.