8 March: Let All Women Have the Chance to Be What They Want To Be

I reached adulthood happily believing that I had freed myself from unnecessary forms of subjugation. We eschewed pantyhose, hair curlers, pantsuits and other trappings of physical appearance that had once seemed so crucial for social success.

Universities opened their doors to us without any discrimination, it seemed, on the basis of sex. We accepted, without too much surprise, that nearly all professors were men, that nursing was for women, and that leading a department was a man’s job. However, in the atmosphere of the 1970s, we started to dream more ambitiously of breaking moulds; we wanted to open up society in a freer, richer, more democratic direction. This mobilisation was most evident in women who, with or without feminist alliances, were willing to do whatever it took to become doctors, engineers—or even department heads. The important thing was that you could be “yourself”.

In the atmosphere of the 1970s, we started to dream more ambitiously of breaking moulds; we wanted to open up society in a freer, richer, more democratic direction

Years have passed since those early days. Like many of my female colleagues, I feel that our professional lives cannot be judged on the basis of being a man or a woman. We had begun a journey that would never end, a demand that no one could control—except us women, except myself. Of course, all around me I saw female colleagues who were treated by some men as nothing more than a “pretty face”. I have worked with women who are intelligent, ambitious, collegial, faithful, sweet, energetic and honest. I have felt comfortable building projects, delving into how to move forward, cultivating a social conscience. I have been able to choose when, where and with whom; risking losses, but taking chances in order to grow.

Photo: Laura Guerrero / Barcelona City Council

Inequalities in Women’s Health Interventions

I have spent years working on the prevention of cervical cancer. This type of cancer kills many women each year, especially in resource-poor countries. Thanks to intense and fortunate scientific research, today we could prevent practically all cases of cervical cancer. In the best-case scenario, the World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that it will take 100 years to eliminate this cancer in most countries, but less than five years in North America, Australia and many European countries.

Why this inequality? Is it just because of place of birth, or is it also because women’s health is a lower priority? In many places, protecting reproduction has been prioritised as a key factor in sustaining the population. Efforts have been made to reduce maternal mortality, which is associated with reproduction, but women’s health interventions are far from sufficient.

Why this inequality? Is it just because of place of birth, or is it also because women’s health is a lower priority?

If we optimistically embrace the challenge of cervical cancer elimination, we will see that it is not enough to promote vaccination, gynaecological screening or universal access to treatment. When we work with a country or a community to strengthen these health interventions, we encounter a reality that is very different from the one experienced by my generation in Barcelona. The ability to claim one’s own identity in all the spheres where we managed to do so is far from universal.

In my field of women’s health, it is often understood that the woman standing before us is not in control of her own life. She will not be the one to decide how many children she wants or with whom she wants to live. I see women who have to ask their husband for permission to accept treatment for a potentially cancerous lesion—and, horrifyingly, it is not uncommon for the husband to refuse.

In my field of women’s health, it is often understood that the woman standing before us is not in control of her own life. She will not be the one to decide how many children she wants or with whom she wants to live

Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination is one of the most powerful tools we have in the fight against cervical cancer. The most cost-effective approach is to vaccinate all girls between 9 and 15 years of age with two doses, although it will probably soon be accepted that a single dose is sufficient.

In some countries and communities, HPV vaccination has been rejected because of fears that it could encourage early sexual activity or jeopardise women’s reproductive capacity. These are common arguments that serve only as obstacles to a healthy life—and they are rarely promoted by women themselves.

Lucy Barh, a midwife at Redemption Hospital in Monrovia. Photo: Dominic Chavez / World Bank

Never Stop Trying

Why celebrate International Women’s Day on 8 March? Without ever saying it out loud, I have lived by the motto of “never stop trying”. Now more than ever, I believe it is necessary to demand equal access to the freedom of choice, to the opportunity to work, to the ability to live a healthy life, so that all women have the chance to be what they want to be.

I am pleased to see outlets such as Nature urging readers to support female scientists on the African continent. It is not enough that they have come as far as they have; they have to be able to sustain their research. From here, we can expand and improve our collaboration with these women to help them secure better funding for their projects, thereby lending them more autonomy and security.

I am pleased to see outlets such as Nature urging readers to support female scientists on the African continent. It is not enough that they have come as far as they have; they have to be able to sustain their research

What do I see when I open the newspaper? The death of another woman at the hands of her ex-partner. The EU president being greeted inappropriately by a visitor. Meanwhile, women—mostly from rich countries—are winning medals at the Winter Olympics, competing, enjoying themselves, and suffering disappointment, just like their male counterparts. To live in equality, it seems that the important thing is possessing the certainty that we women have the same rights. From the core of our being—our cells, our blood, and our brains—we must cry out for this equality, so that we may use it forcefully to counteract any opposition and achieve our goals.

May this 8 March inspire us to continue our long journey of breaking down the barriers that limit our ability to BE OURSELVES.