Life Stories Of Women & Girls Around The World

Narrowing it down to my culture, back in my hometown of Jilig in the North East of Ghana, women are predominantly groomed to take the back seat. It is unfortunate however it is the sad truth! Women do play an important role during marriage ceremonies. These roles are; however, played in the secret of a room behind closed doors. Women in my culture are expected basically to grow up, marry, and bear children. Education and economic value are secondary, though many families seem to be pushing for that in recent times.

We have been raised to expect wonders from our mothers and so little of our fathers. We demand food, shelter and warmth without considering that mothers also are in need of those. And yet there's a prevalent culture of judgment from women to other women who choose not to follow the norm. It’s almost as if we all know that the norm is killing us and yet to not be part of it would mean exile from your community.

I challenge society’s standards and I'm not afraid to take risks. Apart from being an aspiring freelance model, I also fix cars with my friends. I see myself as a Victorian - I don't let anyone or anything limit me and I go for what I want. I was bullied a lot and still I am being made to think I'm not worth anything. People have rejected me because I don't have clear skin, because I don't have the perfect body, etc., I've been raped and left for dead but through strength and prayer, I survived and lived through the experience. Many said I asked for it and some say they were trying to take the 'tomboy' out of me. My story still continues as I live to fight another day.

There are many things I am passionate about. I personally feel passion changes with time, with your age. Currently, I am passionate about a career in the Tech field - that’s the reason I am pursuing my career as a Computer Engineer. To talk about my childhood, I was more passionate about dancing, writing, and honestly I do it in my free time. Tomorrow, if you ask me, I would be saying I am passionate about travelling the world, counselling people, giving motivational talks at a big stage and many more. So, I think it’s a changing process. At the end ,"change" always remains constant right?

Literature and young people are what I'm most passionate about. I am a published author of short stories. I also had a radio show called The Book Factory which showcased Zambian authors, their works and writing tips. I also offer consultancy to upcoming writers. My passion for young people has led me to work with a number of organizations, aiding them to create content for young people, teach classes and even speak. I continue to do this.

I think in Ghana the most significant barrier is… the leaders. Most of the leaders in Ghana are men and they don’t think a woman is capable of handling big responsibilities. As an interdisciplinary designer, I can’t count the number of times I’ve been questioned as to whether the work I put out is work I actually designed myself. Being a female designer alone is very shocking to a lot of people.

Motorsport is my passion. Ever since I was a kid I have been into cars and racing. I am related to Sri Lanka’s oldest veteran racing driver, the Late Mr. Ananda De Alwis. I loved to tag along with dad for the races even as a kid. My racing career began with Karting, and I’ve taken part in several national races and endurances. I have also been a part of the First Ladies Team to run a 6hr Karting endurance race in Sri Lanka. My next exciting advancement in my racing career is to compete in international soil in extreme off roading (4x4) challenges.

The most significant barrier to women empowerment, I believe, is that we act or believe that we live in a modern society but actually we still lay on the foundations of old societal norms. The biggest barrier is the hypocrisy and I firmly believe that change must be from within.

I am currently living in Colombia and continue to find that I have so much more to learn from my roots. The beauty is finally being able to immerse myself in this culture; understanding why my parents had worked so hard and always pushed me to be my best. Because in Colombia jobs are limited, there are evident social clashes and constant reminders of a male-dominated culture. I continue to create and sell products and I am constantly educating myself on new subjects that assist me in evolving my career.

I hold a BTech degree in Biotechnology and landed myself a very prestigious job in the field of Molecular Oncology; however, I changed my field to the business side of Healthcare, where I was into international business. I changed again to the Construction field, and finally, I joined my husband’s business post marriage… It may sound like I am a restless and dissatisfied or confused person from my various assignments, but I feel that not accepting the same routine makes me run for more.

Being the last born of my family and growing up to have all that I wanted has not [prevented me] from striving for greatness. I have always been very smart, even as a child, taking top positions in the class and being every teacher’s favourite. I graduated from university with good grades and I have always loved to practice my profession. I wrote my professional accounting (ICAN) examinations and I was awarded the Best Female Qualifying Candidate and the Second-Best Qualifying Candidate. That was a great achievement for me and I felt very proud of myself.

When I started karting, let's just say I wasn't very good. Being the only girl racing with the boys wasn't easy at the start. There were entire years of karting where I didn't even make it onto the podium and most of the time I finished last. But many races and an uncountable amount of laps later, I won my first race! And it was pure happiness, to feel that a girl can be good as boys.

Where I come from, women are brought up as homemakers. We're taught to cook, clean, and obey our husbands and accept their excesses. Nowadays though a lot has changed. Women from my part of the world are learning to stand up, to speak up for themselves and what is right (I guess we have feminism to thank for that). It's getting better and I know this is just the beginning.

I had a lack of confidence because I've been bullied as a dissident woman. A few years ago, taking my master's degree was very rare in my world, and many judgments over women were thrown on [me] those years. Or maybe I was in the wrong environment.

I grew up withdrawing from society, from friends, and everything. I had really low self-esteem and confidence. I always thought I wasn’t loved so it was really a big issue growing up. The second would be the fear of failure; I have come to understand that in order to succeed, I have to succumb to fear and make it my friend because without it then my success isn’t valid. If I fail, I try again; no matter how much I fail.

If I'm open about my experiences as a woman, the biggest threat is somebody calling my parents and maligning my image. If I get harassed, I become "damaged goods". If I'm loud and open, I'm "easy and not marriage material". The fear of my image is so strong combined with my general well-being. If you can't relate, yesterday I was standing across the road from my college. A big car rolled up in front of me. Two men got off the car and I was so scared that I crossed the road immediately.

Everyone has a way they want you to behave, what to wear, how to talk, but I want to quote scripture, “She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future” (Proverbs 21:35). This is what we should live by wherever we find ourselves but no, society won’t allow this. Society will prefer if women are regarded and seen as the weaker gender. As a woman, you are told to follow your dreams but just when you start to do so, they come back to bite you, trying to tell you what to do and not to do.

I come from a land which is known for its culture and heritage, where bonds between families and people are at the highest. And I come from one of the states of India which is known as God’s own country - none other than Kerala. But still, sometimes we wonder, how can it be called ‘God’s own country’ when the women have no freedom?

Womanhood in Pakistan is beautifully summarized by Sara Suleri, that bodies of women in Indo-Pak subcontinent were colonized twice, first by the British and then by the men. A traditional Pakistani woman grows up in a sheltered environment, with most life decisions made for her by others. She learns the social code of conduct and morality early in life. Deep down she knows that her birth was greeted with less eagerness than her brothers.

I wish I could write this post more about how beautiful my country still is and all the beautiful places one can visit. I wish to dwell more on the various breathtaking landscapes that adorn the country but, I can’t. The past few years have been hard for the female community in my country. One cannot take a walk down the street without feeling chills down their spine when they realize that a man is walking a few steps behind them.

I've been luckier than most people in terms of parents, but still, when I think about it, I see the choices that were made by my parents were [influenced] by my gender. Most of these are to do with my safety, so I don't have the heart to blame them, but I do blame society. I am a woman in Turkey, and I can't do many things a man can, solely because of my gender. I can't be as bold as a man, can't stand up for myself as freely as a man, because I'm scared for my life. I can't be too confrontational, and can't be too chatty. What men think of me will affect my entire life, so if I trust the wrong men and make a mistake, I know it will follow me for a long time.

We as individuals are oppressed to let go of our spark, our flame, our power, because ‘no man can handle a strong woman who is independent and fearless’. They reduce us to a face and genital organs, being able to conceive - indeed it’s partly true [we do have that ability] and I’m embracing it fully, but today, I know that I’m much more. I’m going to break boundaries and create the extraordinary out of the ordinary because this is who I AM.

I became a published author at the age of 17. I was sexually harassed on the street and overcoming that experience was a milestone for me. And when I overcame that experience, I started writing about it in poems. I'm passionate about writing. I'm devising that passion into bringing change. People text me after my articles. I get a lot of hate and that's how I know that somehow it’s working.

Living in Jamaica is hard. Although we do have a high level of female senior managers, there is a lot of domestic violence and sexual harassment.