“I dream of being able to hire more women who are experts in the economy,” says European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde, desiring to break the glass ceiling that still often slows down this gender, which is unfairly said to be weak, but it is “a source of enrichment for the economy.”
She is the first woman to head this institution, and she put the issue of inflation that is shaking European governments in second place, in order to talk about the success of women, during the discussions at the economic meetings in Aix-en-Provence.
Lagarde added, “If women get jobs under the same conditions as men, the European Union will have” about ten million additional employees, an increase in gross domestic product of 10% by 2050, and this means enriching our economies.
In front of a large audience as fans waved fans to cool off the sweltering heat, she shared the stage with three other important women.
“But we are somewhat like a detail that hides the big picture,” said Laurence Bonne, French Minister of State in charge of European Affairs, adding, “As long as we associate the word weakness with the word woman; Society will judge that women are unable to assume power, because assuming power means being a strong man, “as the former chief analyst at the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development said.”
discrimination
Although women represent about half of the workforce and are more educated than men, they occupied 37% of managerial positions in the European Union in 2019, and a much smaller percentage (18%) in senior positions, according to Eurostat figures.
According to the same source, 28% of the boards of directors of listed companies are women. Until now, the management of these companies is still reserved for men. Progress has certainly been made over the past decades but much remains to be done.
Emmanuelle Oriol, a researcher at the Toulouse School of Economics and professor of economics, says: “Only 12 countries in the world – all in the European Union, including France – were presenting in 2022 ideal equality of rights between men and women, compared to (zero) in this field in 1945.”
And she wonders: “Does this equality of rights translate into equality in job and job opportunities? both. There is a form of discrimination, and it is cultural that persists over time and is very difficult to shake.”
Over the years, the French parliament has voted on texts aimed at promoting parity in electoral mandates. Measures have also been taken in the country and at the European level to provide quotas for women on boards of directors.
Sparkle courage
Louise Mushikiwabo, Secretary-General of the International Organization of La Francophonie, says: “We must change the stereotype and put women in positions traditionally reserved for men.” As is the case in her country, Rwanda, where she was Minister of Foreign Affairs.
And she adds, “When young boys see a police chief or mayor of a major city, they grow up with this experience (…), there is another look at what women can do,” while also calling for improving girls’ access to training courses classified as Masculine like science and mathematics.
Within the European Central Bank, Christine Lagarde wants to set an example to encourage women to “believe in themselves and have the courage to shine”. Under her presidency, the Foundation decided to accelerate the assumption of women positions, especially in positions of responsibility, as women are supposed to constitute at least 40% by 2026.
“I have worked in these very masculine environments for more than 40 years,” she said. “I have yet to see a single young woman who has come to ask me for a raise or a bigger bonus because she thinks she is better. I’ve seen a lot of men do that!”
And she continued, “We must accept that a woman can work in exactly the same conditions and sometimes even better,” explaining, “Although I am a woman, I assure you that I spend most of my time fighting inflation.” (AFP)
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2023-07-09 14:41:55
