Did you know that March 8th is International Women’s Day? In many ways, International Women’s Day is even more important than mother’s day or grandmother’s day – why? Because it honors all women. We’ve worked and fought hard for the rights we have, but there are still mountains to climb and equal pay raises to demand.
This international day of celebration was created to, “Celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievement of women. Yet let’s also be aware progress has slowed in many places across the world, so urgent action is needed to accelerate gender parity. Leaders across the world are pledging to take action as champions of gender parity.
Sign the Pledge For Parity
#PledgeforParity
Do take the time to click on the above hyperlink and add your name to the pledge. As OB/GYNs, we focus on women’s health throughout the ages. From an adolescent or teenager just starting her period to older women focusing on remaining healthy, vibrant and sexy after menopause – we experience the amazing power of women on a daily, and hourly, basis.
After you sign the pledge, we encourage you to read these powerfully touching and heartfelt words, written by Mark S. DeFrancesco, MD – the current president of the American College of Obstetrics & Gynecology (ACOG). As he so eloquently puts it, “As women’s health care providers, we know many of the things that help women to achieve parity. One, of course, is reproductive autonomy. The ability to control if and when to become pregnant helps women to finish their educations, progress in their careers, and pursue their life goals. This cannot be emphasized enough, but unfortunately, millions of women around the world lack reproductive control.”
We agree with Dr. DeFrancesco, that in our honoring of women’s rights for equality, we must also focus on the disenfranchised women living around the world. Many of these women live without adequate education, healthcare, prenatal and post-natal support or even the simple ability to speak up for themselves and be heard without threat of bodily harm or a lowering of their social status. Many women live without ready access to clean, potable water.
Even in our own “first-world” or “civilized” country, there are tens of thousands of women who live each day in fear of physical, verbal and/or emotional abuse. Women are raped and then treated as perpetrators, rather than victims. Girls and women have the highest risk of being forced or coerced into sex trafficking – and the list continues.
It is only through a unified, powerful and relentless voice that our society – and our global family – can continue to improve the lives of women in our homes, our communities, our states, countries and the world at large.
Please take the time to Sign the Pledge For Parity. Then share it with your social network and spread the word. Celebrate the amazing and sacred power that we share as women, sisters, mothers and daughters. It’s time that inequality truly becomes a paradigm from the past, a page in the history books an idea that makes modern society frown in disbelief; “How were women ever considered anything other than heroic?”
Are you looking for an OB/GYN that honors that inherent power of the feminine? One who takes your opinions, ideas and perspectives seriously? Contact Overlake OB/GYN and start experiencing women’s reproductive care in a whole new way.