March 8 does not empower me. March 8 makes me feel down, because it reminds me that the rest of the year, the other 364 days, women continue to lag behind, demanding rights that it is shameful that, in 2023, we still have to demand.
We know the theory. We are 50% of the population and it is fair that we have equal access and representation and power, at home, in society, in business, at university, or wherever necessary. Of course, I don't like that quotas have to be imposed, because I also believe that it should be meritocracy that leads women to occupy half of everything. But in the name of meritocracy, men still end up always choosing men, what a mystery. Not even by imposing it by law have we managed to guarantee female presence in positions of power, in governing bodies or on the boards of directors of companies... the Ibex barely complies. But let's look at the boards of the startupsorscaleups, for example! Women are as invisible as unicorns in the animal kingdom. If it has even been necessary to make a law for women to be on award juries, because until now no one has been sufficiently ashamed every time thegentlemen, alone, they make and unmake. Empower, what a trap. Who should empower us? I don't need anyone to empower me. I am not part of any minority or endangered group. And I'm tired (many of us are tired!) of having to claim the obvious (at this point we are still fighting for equal opportunities or for equal pay).It embarrasses me that we still have to keep fighting stereotypes, especially because those who perpetuate them might have painted their logo purple today, thinking that this way we are already happy.Empower, what a trap. Who should empower us? I don't need anyone to empower me. I am not part of any minority or endangered group. And I have grown tired (many of us have grown tired!) of having to claim the obvious.But I have grown tired and today I don't want to participate in any event designed for women (putting woman in a title is exclusionary. It's laughable to go to a talk about working man's day). Women can talk about menopause, about how to organize ourselves to work and raise children, we know about that. But we can also know about nuclear physics, artificial intelligence, mobility, football, heavy metal, literature, software or whatever is needed.There are women experts in all disciplines of the global world. What is needed is to think about them and give them a voice. To make ourselves role models, also for men. It's not that difficult.That's why I don't want to go to women's clubs, or women's meetings, to networkingsfor women, or to talks for women. Now I don't want anysafe spacemore. No more ghetto. Not anymore. What I want now is to be in the same places where there are almost only men, where they call the shots and make decisions on behalf of everyone and for everyone. I want to be there for who and what I am. Without having to fake masculinities, or disguise myself in masculine suits or exaggerated necklines. I don't want to be the colorful note. I don't want to be there just because I have ovaries.I want to be there for what I know and for what I can contribute, which should be as much --or more, why not?-- as any man can contribute. To whom, by the way, no one will have asked for an extra test demonstrating his qualification: it is taken for granted. I want to be there, dressing in the way that makes me feel good, thinking and feeling how I feel, acting as I am.I want to be there because if we are not, the world is losing half of the available talent, and a different and equally valuable sensitivity and perspective. I want to be without having to ask for permission or forgiveness. To be there, because we are.
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