Breaking Gender Barriers to Recognize the Different Hats Women Wear
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“Sugar and spice and everything nice, that’s what little girls are made of.”
This is a famous nursery rhyme sung by loving parents to baby girls. But does it serve as the backbone for gender stereotypes that infuse our society? Such stereotypes often fail to recognize the many different hats women wear in one lifetime.
We all know that in order to achieve development, peace and sustainability, we have to achieve gender equality. Gender equality is about disruption - it is about breaking social norms and gender barriers that limit opportunities for women and girls - why? #becausewomencan.
The annual Savvy and Successful by Coca-Cola Beverages Pakistan Limited (CCBPL) reaches out to women who have not only broken gender stereotypes in choice of their careers but also those who go beyond the set benchmarks of their respective fields.
UN Women, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, had the pleasure to be part of this important initiative celebrating the successes of extraordinary Pakistani women.
Mr. Jamshed Kazi, Country Representative, UN Women Pakistan, invited to present one of the awards at the 3rd Annual Savvy and Successful Awards 2015 by CCBPL in Lahore this month, said: “The women (and men) of Pakistan have indispensable roles. The achievements and victories being celebrated tonight are of outstanding women, but are also wins for Pakistan itself. It is important to continually acknowledge the role that women play towards nation-building and driving change in public, private and societal settings.” He added: “This recognition suggests stereotypes are beginning to lose their potency, and re-enforce the growing recognition that we need more women ‘change-makers’ to make a difference while calling for greater gender equality and women’s empowerment in society”.
Eight exceptional women honored include: leading educationist Humaira Bachal, who runs Dream Model Street School for underprivileged children; Zahida Kazmi, Pakistan’s first ever female taxi driver; Shazia Parveen, who joined the Rescue 1122 emergency services as Pakistan’s first female firefighter; Sarah Belal, Director of Justice Project Pakistan; Sadia Gul, the youngest Squash player with ironic ambition to become World Champion; and Dr. Mariam Sultana, first Pakistani Woman to earn a PhD in Extragalactic Astrophysics. CCBPL also recognized women working within the company a, Sales Coordination Officer with over 15 years of service, and their first female Warehouse Operator within the entire value chain.
For more information contact:
Ms. Faria Salman, Strategic Management and Partnership Officer &
Communications Focal Point. UN Women Pakistan
Email: faria.salman@unwomen.org