It’s again the same time of the year when we re-evaluate how far we have come as genders, foremostly, and then as humans. The anthropocentric view of the age makes it even more difficult to assess our role on this earth.
Climate change and its effects on women, meeting sustainable development goals, and the implementation of a green economy become even more prudent for the bare survival of mankind, in harmony with the environment and, at large, with the universe. Peace within, peace without.
When the world is fighting food shortages, economic warfare, and the mutation of pandemics, we women fight for equity, justice, and green laws. The resilience with which we have come this far is commendable. Let’s take this moment to cheer our journey toward a just and equitable society. Success comes in leaps and bounds for some and for others in small and feared steps, only if there is movement toward the end!
Women have come a long way in the field of science and technology since Madame Curie, who, in her struggle, stayed determined to not give up in her quest. Let’s not forget success is a shared journey—there was a friend and a partner, a man who thought nothing less of Curie than an equal. The doors that were opened for women in science by Curie—were these doors opened equally to all women? This is an essential question.
Almost 90 years since her death, women today in science are still fighting challenges to be recognized as scientists. The underrepresentation of women in STEM fields is frequent. Women hold a minority of endowed chairs in science and the rank of professor in the sciences at universities.
And, most concerning, are the challenges faced by young girls of color who aspire to enter STEM fields and for women of color who are seeking successful academic careers in STEM fields. Especially women of Asian and African origins face triple the amount of these challenges compared to the Western world due to cultural appropriations and traditional stereotyping of gender-centricism. However, we have groundbreakers like Nergis Mavalvala, a physicist known for gravitational wave research, and Tasneem Zehra Husain, a theoretical physicist and string theorist.
Madam Curie’s family background, environment, and work ethics were helpful in producing Nobel Prize-winning work. The not-oft-told story is one about the challenges she faced because of her gender—challenges to become educated, challenges to receive recognition for extraordinary science, challenges to value a woman’s intelligence. Her focus and strong-headedness made her successful. Otherwise, biases were strong and many for her to fight.
Gender stereotypes discourage women from pursuing careers in STEM fields quite often. Societal pressures to comply with traditional roles and expectations breed hostility for women in research and technology, preventing excellence. Economic disparity and discrimination strip countless women of the knowledge and skills needed to fulfill their potential. There is a lack of equal opportunities due to limited representation in mainstream STEM and STEAM fields.
The shortage of women in leadership roles within academia and research institutions impedes their professional development and career growth. This lack of diverse leadership hampers innovation and limits the development of inclusive and equitable environments within these professional spheres.
Balancing career and family life is another challenge. My mother restricted her advancement because the children were too young to be left in anyone’s responsibility to fulfill her own dream. Her PhD in organic chemistry is still short of its last publication… something she still dreams about in her deep sleep. As if her tragedy wasn’t enough, she professed the same to her daughter—me. Though I cartographed my way to self-actualization later, it seems unfair to have wasted so much time to get on with my aspirations.
Similarly, we come across a huge brain drain where the environment is not conducive for women to make their mark, especially in science.
This year, the theme of International Women’s Day 2025 is “Accelerate Action.” A cry out to the world to support, acknowledge, and help women advance in their respective fields. “Action is eloquence,” William Shakespeare’s play Coriolanus rightly voices the need of the time.
The situation is not bleak. We have come this far and are resilient to adversity. We are supportive and encouraging and ready to go miles for each other. I, for one, am lucky to have women of substance as my colleagues who take equal pride in supporting each other. The shared sense of achievement is cherished manifold. The laxity is in the parochial mindset that dapples the philosophy of equal rights.
Amongst us are the secure and powerful women who pave each other’s path… Arundhati Roy’s recognition of Elif’s work: “Make place for Elif Shafak on your bookshelf. Make place for her in your heart too. You won’t regret it.” This is a fine example. Women of letters have always challenged societal norms, injustice, expanded literary canons, explored diverse themes and perspectives, trailblazed democratic change, and engaged in private and public activism.
When it comes to IT and AI, we come across groundbreakers, innovators, and determined women like Sadia Bashir in the Pakistani gaming industry. She founded Pakistan’s first game school, which has helped to change attitudes towards women in gaming.
“Nothing in life is to be feared. It is only to be understood,” said Marie Curie.
People who break their own patterns, evolve, discover and rediscover, learn, unlearn, and relearn. People who question the status quo. People who challenge themselves can’t be held back. Kaifi Azmi’s poem Aurat is a constant motivation:
تو فلاطون و ارسطو ہے، تو زہرہ پروین تیرے قبضے میں ہے گردوں تری ٹھوکرمیں زمیں
Feminism is about all genders having equal rights and opportunities. It’s about respecting diversity and finding unity in diversity!
Also Read: The Lost Aangans (Courtyards)
