Today is March 8 – International Women's Day, a symbol of the long-standing struggle for economic, political and social equality. Although the laws in Macedonia guarantee equality, the reality shows that women are still not treated equally in all spheres of society.
“The biggest obstacle lies in deeply rooted stereotypes – not only those that women have about themselves, but also those that society imposes on them,” says Savka Todorovska, president of the National Alliance for Gender Equality. She reminds us that although there are laws to protect women’s rights, their implementation remains a challenge. She points out that the fact that out of 81 mayors in the country, only two are women, and the current government has only three female ministers, speaks volumes about the position of women in our country.
Women in Macedonia continue to face pay gaps and limited access to leadership positions. Partly as a result of traditional expectations, they take more time off to care for their families and travel less for work.
"Women and society should respect workers' rights, the business sector should give them equal opportunities, and women should also respect their obligations to employers. Let's not forget - today we celebrate the holiday of the working woman!", said Todorovska.
March 8 is celebrated in honor of the courageous textile workers of New York City who protested for better working conditions and equal rights in 1857. The United Nations officially recognized the holiday in 1975, and today it is celebrated around the world as a reminder that the fight for true equality is not yet over.
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