Women should stand up for their rightful positions
In Germany, there is a cheeky joke that “Germans are not ready for a male chancellor”, in response to the change of guard from outgoing chancellor Angela Merkel, who served for 16 years, to the new Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
There is a generation of young Germans who have only known a female chancellor and it has been previously reported that German children often ask their parents if “boys can become chancellor” because most of them have grown up in a country where a woman was holding the highest office.
However, even as Ms Merkel exits, another exciting thing happened. Germany is not only being run by a man for the first time in nearly 20 years, the incoming Cabinet will now have equal number of women and men, making it a historic Cabinet with more women than ever in the country’s history.
The new Chancellor, Mr Scholz, was quoted in international media saying: “Security will lie in the hands of strong women in this government... women and men account for half the population each, so women should also get half the power.”
While this might not immediately solve the structural gender problem in the country – as women are yet to be fully represented in the German corporate and business world – it is definitely a commendable move, particularly one that Kenya can learn from.
The issue of gender equity is often a controversial, high-stakes conversation in this country, and it doesn’t matter the context; in corporate, in politics, government and academia, to name a few. The push for gender parity is often misunderstood as women demanding free positions but in the real sense, women are simply asking for what rightfully and morally belongs to them.
Equal opportunities
Most people are miseducated when it comes to allowing women equal opportunities in education, politics, economics and work. Positions for women are often misunderstood as ‘tokens’ as opposed to viewing this as a fundamental structural problem in society.
However, if we are to learn anything from Chancellor Scholtz’s statement, it is that women should be involved in key decision-making, not to tick a gender- equity box, but for the fundamental reason that women make up half the population and therefore deserve to have their voices heard.
We also learn that the best allies in this push for gender parity are men. In the history of Germany, it took a man to ensure that half the Cabinet seats are occupied by women – and this is not an indictment on Ms Merkel’s regime, for she too made significant though silent moves to support women.
It is critical that women stand up and fight for their rightful positions in society. These voices, however, will remain ineffective if we do not get the buy-in of the men, specifically the men in power who have the authority to make history-altering decisions like Scholtz.
We need more men in power to take up opportunities of mentorship, coaching, sponsorship and to make intentional decisions that will elevate women in the workplace, politics and society.
Sometimes the most powerful feminist is a man. BY DAILY NATION
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