Happy Women's Day!

This year we celebrate the 100th International Women's Day.


Men are allowed to have passion and commitment for their work ... a woman is allowed that feeling for a man, but not her work.~ BARBRA STREISAND, People Magazine, May 31, 1993 
 

Whatever women do they must do twice as well as men to be thought half as good.  Luckily, this is not difficult.  ~Charlotte Whitton

To date, although women's social status and welfare have improved tremendously for the past decades (thanks to the influence of education and feminism action), women are still challenged by many social barriers and stereotyped in many funny ways. In third world countries, there is still a long way towards achieving equality between men and women. Even in the well-developed countries, in the fields of Science, Maths and Engineering, there are less women professors in comparison with their male peers (and their pay can be significantly different). My personal experience was that an uncle whom I've always respected strongly 'advised' me to settle down and become a mother rather than to chase after my personal goals after I finish my PhD. Quoting his words 'You should feel grateful that you are allowed to study until this level. Don't be too ambitious.' I mean, if I want to let go of certain things in life in order to be a wife or mother, it has to be my decision, which comes from my desire and wish, and not for the reason that I 'have to'. Women deserve the freedom and rights to chase after their dreams too, aren't they? 


I have a voice! ~quoting from Oscar's 2011 Best Film 'The King's Speech'

There is in every true woman's heart, a spark of heavenly fire, which lies dormant in the broad daylight of prosperity, but which kindles up and beams and blazes in the dark hour of adversity.~WASHINGTON IRVING, The Sketch Book