Conversations surrounding gender inequality ought to be sieved to do away with the chaff less people are willing to voice out. People from all part of the world are doing notable feats that are intentionally being ‘genderlized’ in news headlines, rendering the relevant of what is being celebrated to gender instead of what is being achieved.

There had been challenges in the past decades and now, relating to what a person CANnot achieve or do depending on their gender. There had also being notable activism to eradicate such divisive mindsets by concerned persons who used various channels to attain their objectives. The cause of such advocacy is still ongoing in various disciplines at the moment.

Today, the conversations go beyond gender inequality to racism to religion.

I would want to believe that such dialogues are reaching far more positive conclusions than before, however, ‘genderlizing’ accomplishments by the media and some activists especially, creates the impression that little have been achieved in the fight for equality.

When Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director General of the World Trade Organization was sworn into office, her milestone was geared towards the fact that she’s “the first woman and African to serve as the Director General of World Trade Organization”. Her competency was under-reported.

I wonder why it is normalized when a man makes same progress. Wait, maybe I know why: humans have unconsciously accepted that men will always be ahead of women in terms of leadership, innovation and creativity. No?

In relation, when Tanzania’s Samia Hassan was sworn in as President after the death of former President John Magafuli, the conversations were reduced to her being “first female Muslim President of Tanzania”, and not for the open fact that she is proficient for the position.

These women and many other persons were not chosen to leadership positions because they were women. It is because they are competent just like the American doctor who solved the gorilla glue saga (his achievement, was unfortunately reduced to his race) or the historic feat of the Wright brothers.

There are many other instances where people’s achievements or wrong doing are concentrated to their gender and race. Many people have abused unified discussions on the fight for racial and gender inequality for political gain, self-centered goals and sympathy.

When in the past and now a lot of men reach a milestone, regardless of their gender, we do not read “the first man to recycle plastics” or “the first American to invent…”, rather, conversations are summarized in the personality or characteristics of capability.

Why then does a section of the human race reduce successes to racial or gender achievements, yet ironically finds it offensive when such sentiments are emphasized in the media or by other human races?

We have come a long way, a very long way in the fight against racial and gender inequality, so much so that, I fear the toil and sacrifices will not reach a desired conclusion anytime soon if we fail to first of all address people as human before their gender or race or religion.

Imagine we channel conversations to civilization first afore gender or race or religion. Imagine we live peacefully together and tolerate others views, engaging in healthy discourse, agreeing to disagree without utterances on stereotypes or ‘genderlising’ or tagging attainments on the basis of race.

In this month of International Women Day, I #ChooseToChallenge biases in the fight against gender, racial and religious inequality. Reducing accomplishments or wrong doing on the basis of gender torpedoes progress for the minorities around the world who hardly gets exposure.  

Should I reach my self-actualization goals as a global leader one day, I will appreciate that my name and personality precedes conversations before my gender or race.