INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY: WOMEN AT WORK- by Dr. Esther Azi.

internationalwomensday.com

International Women's Day (March 8) is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity.

The theme for International Women’s Day, 8 March, 2017, focuses on “Women in the Changing World of Work”  #BeBoldForChange

The International Women's Day (IWD) on March 8 is an important opportunity to:

• celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women because visibility and awareness help drive positive change for women
• declare bold actions you'll take as an individual or organisation to help progress the gender agenda because purposeful action can accelerate gender parity across the world

While we celebrate women and their achievements and advancements, let us critically take a look at how gender affects our health, especially women.

Though men still outnumber women in the workforce, the percent of women working has steadily increased. Women are now marrying later in life, staying in school longer, delaying childbirth, and having fewer children than in previous years. More women are choosing to continue working while also balancing the traditional parenting responsibilities. 

Work-related health challenges facing women

Women face different workplace health challenges than men. This is partly because men and women tend to have different kinds of jobs. Women generally have more work-related cases of carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis, respiratory diseases, infectious and parasitic diseases, and anxiety and stress disorders. Social, economic, and cultural factors also put women at risk for injury and illness. For example, women are more likely than men to do contingent work part-time, temporary, or contract work. Compared to workers in traditional job arrangements, contingent workers have lower incomes and fewer benefits. Like all workers in insecure jobs, women may fear that bringing up a safety issue could result in job loss or more difficult work situations. They may also be less likely to report a work-related injury.

Sexist treatment and gender discrimination in the workplace can affect a woman's physical and mental health. Sexual harassment can lead to

• anxiety
• depression
• lower self-esteem
• alienation
• insomnia
• nausea
• headaches

Balancing work and family tasks can put additional stress on women, who in many families still take primary responsibility for childcare and eldercare. When family and work demands collide, the resulting stress can lead to physical health problems such as poor appetite, lack of sleep, increase in blood pressure, fatigue, and increased susceptibility to infection. It can also result in mental health problems such as burnout and depression.

👀:Ufuoma Evuarherhe

Women are willing to work. They are willing to give the best of their abilities when the workplace is made conducive, devoid of glass ceilings, discrimination, harassment and including certain considerations such as crèche, digital work etc. We look at powerful women such as Ivanka Trump of the Trump conglomerate and Marissa Mayer, VP of Yahoo who have combined family life with excellent work achievements to call for more action supporting and encouraging women at work.

Today, Be Bold and take action to encourage a woman at work, include them in high level management meetings, consider their biological differences, make adjustments for them and see the great output and benefit that would return to the organization and the nation at large. 

The Oscar nominated movie ‘Hidden Figures’ is highly recommended to drive home the fact that centuries after, women are still striving to be taken seriously at work, to break barriers and glass ceilings and to be duly rewarded for their efforts.

*REFERENCE:

www.cdc.gov/niosh

Dr. Esther Ibinabo Azi has a degree in Human Anatomy, Medicine and Surgery, a Masters in Gender and Women Development and is training to become a Specialist in Public Health. She is passionate about Preventive and Social medicine and undertakes this task in her writing and public speaking. She can be reached on:
* twitter: twitter.com/estharib24 
* Facebook: Esther Ibinabo Azi.
* Email: estherazi@hotmail.com.