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Women rule the world today, right? Few people can argue with that fact. And, although they are yet to get concrete political power, former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has shown them that the ultimate price is theirs to lose. It is just a matter of time.

Well, as men sit pretty, women are on the go. From households to high finance and big corporate, women have been making irreversible inroads and stamping their authority both as leaders and decision makers. You just need to look at urban roads during rush hour and you will be pleasantly surprised by the almost equal number of either gender on the steering wheels. It is also a part of today’s reality to find an all-female affair in middle level management in an increasing number of organisations.

The climb up to recognition has not been an easy one. While women have made great strides forward, there are still some nagging challenges that both they and society need to overcome for their contribution to have more impact, from the local to global levels. For instance, in several situations, women are pulled down by various stereotypes that demean their mental and physical abilities; indeed, genius.

The world underestimated women’s resolve to break from the shackles of social, economic and political suppression. Even with all the systemic odds against them, they have risen from the ashes through sheer willpower and hard-nosed determination to take their rightful share of the cake. True, they have suffered casualties along the way, but no one said it would be easy.

I have two women in my life – my wife and my daughter. While my wife comes from an older generation where women were not as assertive as they currently are, my daughter is made of sterner stuff. She is growing up exposed to great women achievers in the arts and sciences. Her dream is to become a neurosurgeon, an ambition that does not sound far-fetched like would have in my generation.

The world celebrated the International Women’s Day early this month. It was a time to yet again take stock of the milestones achieved by the fair sex so far. Women around the world are facing different realities. In developing countries, some achievements recorded in the developed world still appear like a pipe-dream. Even intra-country, there is still a chasm between rural and uneducated women on one hand, and educated and urban women on the other.

Women must now re-evaluate the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats that inform their struggle for equity. In fact, they need to focus on the latter rather than on the concept of equality. The idea that men and women can be “equal” is a misnomer. But do not get me wrong here!

Both genders have specific blueprints in their DNA make up that give them certain inalienable roles and distinctions in their respective characters as human beings. While some traits pose challenges in achieving certain goals, others are a source of strength.

Women need to use their emotional intelligence more in the political arena, rather than engaging in the male testosterone-driven contests for elective positions. This is evident if you look at the temperament of women who are on top of the world like German Chancellor Angela Merkel. I know you will claim that former Britain PM Margaret Thatcher was a tough nut to crack, but that would be the exception rather than the rule.

Women should also unite and use their large numbers to finally breakthrough the remaining barriers in achieving their full potential. The question often asked is, why do women always cry foul while all they need to do is rally behind one of their own? Women have won the fight. They need to re-strategise for the war ahead.  

— The writer is PhD student in International Relations