Together, we women stand united

Over the past decades, significant strides have been made regarding women’s participation in society. I look around and witness women being ever more present across a diverse range of areas, including in leadership roles.

In Brazil, we have seen women ascend to the very top of key government institutions. Recently, the National Justice Council (CNJ) has enacted a rule to boost women’s representation in the courts. Whether driven by genuine desire or societal pressure, the job market is increasingly welcoming women at all levels, even in roles traditionally reserved for men.

Both in Brazil and around the world, more and more women are being appointed as directors, occupying C-level positions and making their mark in various fields. Even in show business and global entertainment, women are taking center stage at award ceremonies and breaking records.

The more optimistic among us may suggest we are on the right track, and they may be right. However, realists – including myself – acknowledge the considerable distance between our current status and where we ought to be. We still encounter a myriad of challenges, particularly regarding our ascension to prominent positions in business and society.

We are all too familiar with the obstacles we confront on a daily basis. These range from deeply rooted unconscious bias to overt criticism, from the reinforcement of male standards to the women scrutinized for demonstrating traits admired in men, among many other highly subtle and highly obvious aspects.

In one of his most poignant songs, Brazilian singer Gilberto Gil sensitively – yet frankly – reflects on how he once lived under the illusion that “being a man would be enough” to feel complete in a masculine world before realizing this was far from the truth.

His words resonate deeply with me. We women have never entertained the notion of such an illusion – we have never imagined that merely being women would suffice to achieve our aspirations.

Yes, our stories are varied. Yet though we may be different from one another, with diverse ambitions and different aspirations, our collective desire for real gender equality unites us. We stand as one in this pursuit, driven by a shared desire as we strive for equal opportunity.

We are the foremost catalyst for societal and global transformation. Ours is a world that remains asymmetrical, unjust and imbalanced, yet it is one that can and must be better for both women and men.

Throughout history, we have been inspired by remarkable women who remind us that surrendering is not an option.

Despite what it represents, this narrative garners increasing support among us. We no longer feel as if we are merely preaching to the choir; a substantial cohort of allies shares our vision and values.

As women, we look to pursue every opportunity the universe presents us – not without effort or adversity, but with the tenacity, courage, and empathy that only women have.