By Connie-Marlene Theyse
Most of the time, I do not like to shout and pontificate about equity and equality, even though the concept lives within the very core of my being. Once a year, when the world celebrates International Women’s Day on March 8th, I feel it’s necessary to highlight the importance of this day. Equity and equality are fundamental, but we often get them mixed up, which is detrimental to what March 8th is trying to achieve.
When speaking of “equity,” we talk to fairness and justice. It distinguishes itself from equality, which means providing the same to all. Equity means recognizing that we do not all start from the same place, and we must acknowledge this and make adjustments accordingly. It is a seemingly never-ending process, constantly identifying and overcoming intentional and unintentional barriers. This year’s International Women’s Day theme is ‘Accelerate Action,’ which made me remember a quote by U.S. Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm’: “If they don’t give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair.”
If we wait for full gender parity to happen naturally, we will be waiting until 2158. Frankly, I don’t have the patience for that. Women need to be part of the conversation, be included in the decision-making, and have a seat at the table to ‘Accelerate Action. As a woman in finance, I feel this in my very core. I have been bringing my own folding chair for as long as I can remember. Growing up in Namibia, I quickly realized that I would need an education and an unwavering focus, if I wanted to be seen and treated as an equal and demand equity for myself.
I know that young girls and women across the world have similar experiences and that is why International Women’s Day is still such an important day. This became the catalyst that propelled me far beyond what a young girl from Namibia could and should dream about. My dreams were valid in my eyes, and I never questioned if I could sit at the table. I just always brought a folding chair and took my seat. My education in accounting and my years in the banking industry mean that I no longer dream of having a seat at the table; I now have a seat at the table.
It is why this year’s International Women’s Day theme, ‘Accelerate Action’, resonates. Without role models and women who have achieved careers in politics and business and earned their positions within social and economic settings, I would never have been inspired. I certainly didn’t do it alone; I had an excellent support network of women who supported and assisted me along the way, for which I am eternally grateful. It is my duty and calling to use and leverage my position so that other women’ can hurry up,’ and get a seat at the table and Inspire Inclusion amongst the next generation.
To me, this epitomizes the theme of ‘Accelerate Action.’ I urge every girl and woman, whatever their age and position, to not only dream but to understand and realize that they can achieve whatever they want. Namibia’s new economic reality means there are tremendous opportunities, and bringing your own chair to the table is the best way to be part of Namibia’s potential and socio-economic development in the coming years. Claim your seat and inspire others to do the same.
Connie Theyse is Head of Enterprise Banking at FNB Namibia, she writes this article in her personal capacity.