By Shahnaz Husain
International Women’s Day is on 8th March. This year the theme is “DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality.” This theme is probably inspired by the forthcoming session of the Commission of Status for Women, which says, that education in the digital age should bring about gender equality and empowerment of women. It has been pointed out that there are growing gender inequalities where digital skills are concerned and there is need for digital skills among women, in order to decrease the gender divide.
On International Women’s Day, we celebrate both women and woman empowerment. We should also celebrate all that women have achieved over the years. It is the day when we should also salute the remarkable achievements of women. Women empowerment and humanitarian activities related to women are close to my heart. I encouraged ordinary housewives to open salons in their own homes, in order to provide them the opportunity to pursue a career and attain financial independence. I believe that financial independence and self reliance are necessary for women empowerment. I have also empowered the physically challenged through my free beauty training courses for the speech, hearing and visually impaired, as well as acid attack survivors. I have also written a beauty book, which has been put into Braille and tied up with Government skill development projects in beauty and wellness. My beauty academy has trained and certified over 40,000 under-privileged women, distributing Tool Kits for home-based businesses.
Today, times have changed. Indian women have made a mark in every field. I always believed in a woman’s potential to be successful in education and the career world. In the career world, there is no hard and fast rule that a man is better by virtue of being male. I believe that given the same opportunities, a woman can be equally successful. A woman can be as successful even in the digital world. Women not only have the courage, inner strength and foresight that are necessary to be successful, but are no less than men when it comes to intelligence, talents and creativity. Today’s woman stands side by side with her male counterpart, as far as education and higher qualifications go.
Yes, times have changed, but we still have a long way to go. Attitudes must change. The changes cannot come from outside and by force. It has to come from within the family and within society. Mothers should educate their daughters and also teach their sons to respect women. Men must together ensure safety and security for women.
I wish to dedicate this International Women’s Day to gender equality and women’s rights. Women empowerment is not about gaining superiority, but about achieving equality. Believe in yourself and your own abilities. Keep learning. It is important to dream. Then have the faith and courage to do everything in your power to make your dreams come true. I always try to inspire women to follow their dreams with faith and courage.
Women educators, technologists, innovators and entrepreneurs should all get together to ensure digital education and improve the access of women to digital tools to achieve gender equality in the future. Innovation, creativity and technology are the keys to future success.
About Shahnaz Husain
Shahnaz Husain, pioneer of the Ayurvedic beauty movement, heads the Shahnaz Husain Group, with a global network of franchise ventures and 375 Ayurvedic formulations. A Case Study at Harvard for Brand Creation, she is now a Harvard Subject for “Emerging Markets” She was honored with the Padma Shri Award and is the first woman in 105 years to receive the World’s Greatest Woman Entrepreneur Award from Success, the U.S. business magazine. Indeed, Shahnaz Husain is a leading international beauty Icon!
