Women being discriminated at the workplace are common narratives, ones that we get to hear quite often. Demoralizing as the circumstances might be, they don’t, necessarily, hinder progress and achievement, say some very influential and powerful women The Week spoke to. Here’s what they had to say. Read on to be inspired.

Bhawani Rana, President of FNCCI
Women face discrimination but it isn’t something that’s unique to them. People get discriminated on the basis of their college education and even their age, especially the younger ones. Too often their suggestions are overlooked on account of them being “less experienced”. I work in the private sector and you don’t get free passes here because of the people you are related to or even your gender. It’s ultimately about your work. My appointment as the president was based on the vote count by an electoral committee. I’m well aware that many people voted for me but there were equally many who didn’t. But I certainly don’t believe that this wouldn’t happen to anyone else, regardless of his/her gender. At the end of the day, I am where I am on merit. As a woman or a man, you should let your work speak for you.

Ezee Thapa, Undersecretary, Ministry of irrigation
Gender poses limitations because of the patriarchal structure of the society and the age-old conformities to nature-invested duties. But there are returns too, with women reservations both in the government and private sector and the prioritization of women for specific positions. Women have to accept that there will always be people frowning upon their positions but people are frowning upon everything and everyone else too. When you are presented with an opportunity, hold onto it passionately and make the most of it, regardless of your ethnicity, background, or gender. Don’t make excuses. You have a pool of opportunities before you so don’t let it go to waste. You gender shouldn’t be your weakness.

Yam Kumari Khatiwada, Secretary, Ministry of finance
I’m from Okhaldhunga and getting to where I am today been a long and difficult undertaking. Very early on in life I realized the importance of education and financial independence. This realization didn’t hit me because of my gender, but it sunk in because of the education I received. As my work life progressed, my personal responsibilities did too, side by side. Nature mandates certain obligations from women, whether it be housework or with their families. But it gets easier as the years go by. You slip into a rhythm and learn to balance it out. You shouldn’t expect to only have to deal with just one thing in your life because you are a woman. That doesn’t happen. As you work and gain financial security, the lines of gender or anything else that you are confined by blurs and fades away.

Ram Kumari Jhakri, Member of parliament and a central committee member of NCP
Although this isn’t always the case, I think people often mask mediocrity by calling it discrimination. Nothing is handed to you on a silver platter. You have to earn it. Politics is a competitive field and people will challenge you at all levels and fronts. You have to deal with criticisms and snide remarks everywhere. I don’t think it’s a gender specific thing. Likewise, leadership isn’t something confined to a certain gender, neither is excellence. Yes, there might be certain restrictions that come with being a woman in our society but men too face all sorts of challenges and hurdles. Limitations are specific to people. Everyone has his/her own irrespective of their gender. 

 
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