Gender equity and ageism: ‘Don’t discard us just because we’re young’

As women hailing from the different Commonwealth countries met for the first-ever Women’s Forum organized ahead of a meeting of the Commonwealth heads of government, it was the appeal of younger women that left a bigger impact.

As participating women reaffirmed their calls on leaders to stop discrimination based on gender, to allow women be part of the decision-making process and to recognize their entrepreneurial drives, younger participants called for an end to discrimination based on age.

“As we try to build up on what women before us delivered, we face ageism. Just because we’re young it doesn’t mean that we are not experienced. We have to redefine what gender equity is. We need to be united and not allow age lines to divide us. We may be young in age, but our life experiences have taught us a lot. We want to be listened. We have the passion and drive but we need the space to be taken seriously,” a 27-year-old woman said.

The two-day forum delivered conclusions calling for action on gender equality. According to the draft conclusions, the Commonwealth leaders will be urged to reaffirm the importance of women’s leadership, equitable participation and empowerment as crucial drivers for inclusive sustainable development.

Appeals were made to acknowledge the importance of the Women’s Forum itself as a permanent platform preceding any CHOGM and contributing to the decision-making of CHOGM.

This year’s theme ‘Women Ahead: Be All That You Can Be’, reinforced the importance of women’s economic, social and political empowerment.

Political empowerment saw the Women’s Forum urging successful women to be mentors and train other women.

“There need to be an invitation to participate, claim it and act confidential. Win the support of political parties and help change them. Change perspectives and agenda and don’t content yourselves with warm words.

“Parties have to recruit women, and this doesn’t just happen. Parties need to support women with money, resources and good quotas. Be wary of promises of goodwill, because it doesn’t necessarily deliver.

“Recognise that violence against women does affect women in politics.”

Political empowerment needs civil society to help break down the idea that women cannot succeed in formal politics.

“We need to change parliaments and get rid of masculinized practices. We need transparency and cross-party women institutions to come together.”