Let's Break The Bias!

Super love Google's Doodle for International Women's Day 2022.

This year's theme is "Break The Bias" and the hand sign sported by Women all over the world today (as seen posted on Social Media and LinkedIn) reminded me of Wonder Woman's.

(Above visual: Me & Gal Gadot "Wonder Woman")

The sign, according to Google, is about a world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination to Women. A world that is diverse, equitable, and inclusive. A world where difference is valued and celebrated. It's about equality and by coming together we can all #BreakTheBias.

Women have come a long way to be where they are today. It was never easy. For years our female ancestors fought to be seen, treated, heard as equal. We are a product of those women's hardships. The experiences that was passed down to us have molded us to be the women we are today.

I was raised by a single mother who has hardly finished her studies. She stopped schooling at age 15 to help her mother look after her siblings. She was a talented girl in arts (as claimed by my aunt) and was once offered by a Japanese artist to take up arts study. But her parents wouldn't let her. I have seen her drew before and was in awe. I secretly copied them so I can learn her skills.

And then when she wanted to enroll in nursing, again she was unable to - for the same reasons. I felt pity for her. She probably rushed into marriage at age 21 because she thought she could be "free", only to have a short lived marriage. With limited skills and knowledge, she continues to provide for us to the point of taking up two different jobs. I have no choice but to take up the role of taking care of my sisters and to grow up before my time.

The experiences have taught me about resilience, mental and emotional strengths. Crying in silence helps to ease the frustrations, and then I would pick myself up again and face the world.

Words like "God turns coals into diamonds with time and pressure. He may be doing the same with YOU..." helps me look at the prospects of future positively.

So whenever life brings me down, I will remember the journey I had growing up. If the younger me can go head on with it, what's stopping me now?

To me, empowered women were the ones that will have each other's back and hold each other's hand when its called for. We do not put other down or dim each other's light. We may come from different countries, of different ethnicities, cultures but deep down, we are "sisters", the daughters of Eve.

My hope for Women all over the world is for us to look beyond our differences and not let them divide us. Pass this on to our daughters and raise them to be strong women that will continue to take on the world.

Now back to Goodle (my short for Google Doodle) visuals, story and the team behind this amazing work 😘