Women in 2016

Women’s empowerment is visible not only in the developed but also in the developing world. “The immediacy of experience,” is becoming a part of women reclaiming the meaning of their lives mainly through work. This phenomenon could no longer be sidelined as “feminism.”

by Victor Cherubim

( January 1, 2016, London, Sri Lanka Guardian) Knowing what you want happen in 2016 or the future is as unpredictable as the weather in Britain or around the world. But reliable forecasters predict 2016 as the “Year of Women”. From boardroom to bedroom, the suggestion is women will play a dominant, perhaps not a domineering role around the world. Is it a forecast, or will happen? Consider government policy on future interest rates in US, or monetary policy in IMF, geopolitical events today, the price of oil or the extent of growth in China, women are the decision makers. This change has been in the making over years and it has come.

Women in the news

With Hilary Clinton running to be the first female President of the United States, or Antonia Kirkland to be elected as the first woman Secretary General of the United Nations in its 70 year history, or Mother Teresa getting a new name and elevated by Pope Francis, as Saint Teresa, in sport or supremacy in war, women will no doubt be a force to reckon in the New Year.

Take Sport for instance, Simone Biles will take Gold in Gymnastics at Rio Olympics; the US Women’s Soccer team is expected to win Gold to take the World Cup and Olympics Gold in back to back years. In the war against ISIS, it is women who are winning the war and who will capture Mosul?

In the diplomatic scene too, we note a landmark “Comfort Women” Agreement signed between Japan and South Korea due to the persistent claim by women. Besides, strengthening women’s access to justice has taken up much time at the recent UN sessions at New York. Many would have noted the number of women delegates among the 195 nations participating in discussion at Paris Climate Change Conference. It is not conjecture that all 195 nations unanimously signed the agreement thanks to the role of women behind the scenes.

Why Women?

2016 in China is the Year of the Monkey. But in China women have all along played a lead. Xi Mingze, only child and daughter of President Xi Jinping and Peng Liyuan, who graduated from Harvard in 2014 and has since returned to China, may well be in the news? Chathurika Sirisena has vowed to solve the problems of Mahawelithenna, Polonnaruwa? and so are other women around the world, slowly but surely taking centre stage, in most walks of life and why not?

One group of women battling Islamic State, which we hardly read about, is the YIG, the Kurdish Women’s Protection Unit. Rumour has that “to be killed by a woman doesn’t lead to martyrdom, but to damnation forever.” These female soldiers don’t take orders from male commanders, though they are allowed to command men.

Women’s empowerment

2016 will be another great year for “Stand up for Scotland” First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon. Everyone knows she and the SNP will win in May 2016, the question is simply the margin of victory that will sweep her party back to power.

Women’s empowerment is visible not only in the developed but also in the developing world. “The immediacy of experience,” is becoming a part of women reclaiming the meaning of their lives mainly through work. This phenomenon could no longer be sidelined as “feminism.”

There are of course, Lists of Women, “rich women, impressive women, beautiful women, sexy women and women to watch,” but the Telegraph quotes the BBC Radio 4 Power List of 100 Women and Her Majesty, The Queen has come out top, not because she is “powerful, but the kind of power she wields is soft power”. I will allow the reader to decide the difference.

2016 a defining Year for United Kingdom

H.M. Queen Elizabeth II becomes the first monarch in Britain to have lived to 90 years on 21 April 2016.It will be marked throughout the country and throughout the Commonwealth in a number of different ways, with street parties and a huge party in the Mall, Service of Thanksgiving at St. Paul’s Cathedral and an extravaganza will be staged from 12 -15 May 2016 in Home Park, Windsor Castle.

I need hardly mention that Her Majesty has seen more Prime Ministers come and go more world leaders. There is none to match Her Majesty for having more, done more, or will do more.