March 8th is International Women’s Day, a day in which we celebrate women’s achievements, raise awareness against bias, and act for equality. This year, the theme is #AccelerateAction. Focusing on the need to Accelerate Action emphasises the importance of taking swift and decisive steps to achieve gender equality. It calls for increased momentum and urgency in addressing the systemic barriers and biases that women face, both within personal and professional spaces.
Alexandra is a communications professional with an audio-visual and storytelling focus on human rights and humanitarian relief. She has experience leading communications and campaigning strategies and outputs for projects both in the UK on the rights of migrants and refugees, and internationally in Libya, Yemen, Nepal, Uganda, Somalia, Kenya.
She was also a speaker at TEDx Covent Garden Women 2016, focusing on migration and colonial narratives.
We had the incredible opportunity of speaking with Communications and Public Outreach Manager at Lawyers for Justice in Libya, Alexandra Azua. Check out the full interview below:
NKD: The 8th of March marks International Women’s Day. What are your thoughts and feelings around this day?
Alexandra Azua: I have mixed feelings about this day, and I’m sure this is a common response, but on one hand, I think celebratory days like this are necessary. They serve as reminders of ongoing struggles, in this case that are faced by women and girls. We need these days as reminders of what struggles and experiences others are facing, especially when we get caught up in our own lives. To that end, it’s important to acknowledge that gender equality has not yet been achieved, and that women are under attack around the world. To dedicate attention and time to this, I do believe these days are important. It’s also an opportunity for much-needed solidarity among women.
On the other hand, it’s frustrating this day has to exist. The reason it exists is exactly because of persistent issues, for example violence against women, which I’ve dealt with a lot in my work, both past and present. Just look at the global rates of femicide. It’s devastating and shameful that we still need these days to draw attention to issues that should have been stopped long ago.
That said, we do have to try to look at it in a positive light. I do sometimes wish the day was more political rather than just celebratory and commercial, as many of these days end up becoming. But either way, it is important to take a moment to appreciate and celebrate each other as women.
NKD: Thanks Ally, would you say there are any ways in which you actively champion gender equality?
Alexandra: I really had to think hard about this question, one of the most important things I try to apply both to myself and to others, particularly other women, is encouraging everyone to speak up, no matter what. As women, we’re often conditioned not to speak up, and I think it’s something that takes daily practice – reminding myself and others that it’s OK to say “I’m not comfortable with this” or “This isn’t right”. It seems so obvious, but it often takes a friend, a colleague, or even a boss to remind us to speak out, to say “It’s OK, say something.”
For me, that’s something I keep in mind constantly – that I have a voice and I should use it. At the same time, I have to acknowledge that in the work I do, especially in a global context, where I work with women from the Global South and different cultures and walks of life, championing gender equality means recognising that I don’t have all the answers. Actually, I think it’s quite a masculine way of thinking, to assume we know what’s best for everyone, to always come in with enforced ‘solutions’.
In my work, especially with women from different cultures and backgrounds, I can’t assume – to tell someone from Libya, for example, how they should navigate their situation as a woman. If they tell me something is acceptable to them, then it’s acceptable to them. For me, it’s not about trying to emulate a traditionally ‘male’ way of working, but about creating something new as women.
Lastly, I’d add a slightly more political reminder. Gender equality is a struggle that’s interlinked with every other struggle. We must remind ourselves of this constantly – whether it’s the actions of figures like Trump, the situation in Palestine, maternity laws in the UK, or other social issues. These are all interconnected struggles, each part of the broader system of patriarchy, power, and control. As women, we must draw these connections between our struggles and those of others. We must be sharing strategies for addressing these challenges, I believe that’s the only way we’ll see progress.
NKD: What do you think are the most important actions that organisations can take right now to accelerate gender equality in the workplace, and how can these changes can be sustained?
Alexandra: It’s about taking small steps on a regular basis. For example, my boss has a policy that she won’t join any panel unless there’s gender parity. That’s the policy – if it’s a four-person panel, there must be another woman aside from her. Simple actions like that, where policies are in place, may create more work or slow down processes, but ultimately, when you have a policy, it’s made to be implemented.
I also believe, though not everyone might agree with me, that safe spaces in the workplace are important. For instance, providing a space where female employees can share experiences or discuss specific issues is valuable. More often than not, there will be shared experiences among female colleagues. Of course, not every woman is obliged to join if she doesn’t want to, but at least offering the opportunity is significant. These are just small actions that don’t need to be tied to a specific day or event.
And as I mentioned earlier, when it comes to speaking out, I think managers should really encourage their female staff, particularly junior staff, to use their voices. I think back to when I was junior, and I remember how intimidating it was when an older male colleague displayed inappropriate behaviour. It took another female colleague, that I didn’t know that well, to tell me, “I think you should say something.” That simple encouragement made me take action and report it to HR. So, it’s really important for managers or senior staff members to take the time to encourage young women, especially, to speak up and not be afraid of potential repercussions, like being labelled ‘difficult’, or similar.
NKD: If you could give one piece of advice to women joining the workforce, what would it be?
Alexandra: For me, there are two key points. The first relates to what I was just saying – I think it’s important to find a safe space, a group, or even just one person to be vulnerable with. This could be a friend, your manager (if you trust them), or even someone you don’t work with, like a mentor.
I feel that, in order to advance in work – at least speaking for myself – I’ve sometimes had to be combative and outspoken, because if you’re not, you may not be heard. But when you do that, you’re sometimes going against your own nature. In meetings, you may find yourself fighting for your point, and then afterwards, you might reflect and think, “I really didn’t like how I came across” or “I didn’t like how that felt.” It’s so important to have a space where you can be vulnerable and say, “That meeting was tough,” or ask, “How do you think I came across?”
Just the other day, a colleague called me and asked, “Do you think that was too much?” I reassured her no and reminded her not to doubt herself. But I think it’s crucial to have a place where you can release that vulnerability, especially when you spend so much of your time being brave and loud in order to be heard.
The second point is about believing that, as women, we sometimes feel the need to be perfect to be accepted. I think we should be comfortable with being imperfect. Men are allowed to be imperfect or average, so why shouldn’t we? We don’t have to be the best of the best to prove that we deserve to be where we are.. So, try to embrace the fact that there will be both good and bad moments in the process, and that’s okay.
NKD: Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us Alexandra.
For more content on this year’s International Women’s Day campaign, click here.
For more information on the amazing work Alexandra is doing, head over to her LinkedIn.