Winter Turns into Spring - The Blog
Embracing Equity - International Women's Day 2023
On the 8th of March 2023, It will be the much celebrated International Women's Day. IWD originated from labour movements in North America and Europe during the early 20th century and took a real momentum as women all over the world rose, time and time again, demanding equality, equity and respect, not just for themselves, but for all genders, all ethnicities, as well as fighting for climate change.
"International Women's Day (March 8) is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating women's equality.
IWD has occurred for well over a century, with the first IWD gathering in 1911 supported by over a million people. Today, IWD belongs to all groups collectively everywhere. IWD is not country, group or organization specific"- from International Women's Day 2023 official website.
This year's International Women's Day is Equity, as In Gender Equity. What does it mean, exactly? Here is the UN definition: "Means fairness for men and women, according to their respective needs. This may include equal treatment or treatment that is different but which is considered equivalent in terms of benefits, rights, obligations, and opportunities. In the development context, a equity goal often requires build-in measures to compensate for the historical and social disadvantages of women."
Why is it so important to have a International Women's Day? There are so many examples of historical abuse and power over girls and women, all over the world, across cultures and ethnicities, and over centuries! And in the 21st Century, yes, we have come a long way but, it still not enough. Everything in place in terms of Women's Rights, today are here because women fought for all of it and are still fighting as nothing is for certain - the Overture of ROE V WADE, last year is a great example of a devastating U-Turn! The never ending arguments regarding abortion, shaming and blaming women at the centre of it all. The lack of work fitting child care arrangements and the high cost of child care, hindering access to work. It seems that no matter what a woman chooses to go back to work or not, we are judged. The centuries long fights for women to have careers in science, literature and descent schooling. There is still a huge pay gap, including Pension pay. The sexualisation of young girls and women. When we get assaulted we are rarely taken seriously and, based on the recent news, not even the MET Police isn't to be trusted. On the 4th of March 2023, The Guardian published the following article "Dozens of UK police officers disciplined over sexual contact with crime victims and witnesses - Nearly 80 officers in 22 forces across England and Wales have faced action for inappropriate relationships, data reveals." by Sian Norris. It reads: "At least two faced criminal proceedings. Nearly all of the offending officers were men, and all but two of the victims female."
On the 26th of April 2023, it was announced that the legal age of marriage and civil partnerships has been raised to 18 in England and Wales. This is great news for the protection of girls and teenagers from forced marriages. I watched "Afghanistan - No Country for Women." Journalist, Ramita Navai, visited different parts of Afghanistan, Herat, Kabul, and more, talking to women and young girls who, since the day the Taliban took over the country (15 August 2022), have been forced into marriages to Taliban Leaders sometimes, thrice their age. She also met women and girls in prison for the "crimes" of not wearing the Burka, walking without a chaperone, the list goes on. Even though the Taliban promised they will allow girls to attend school, they soon placed a ban for girls' education. Last year, for the International Women's Day, some women braved the danger of arrest and death to protest on this important day. Others decided to host secret women's gatherings, pledging to keep fighting against their oppressors. There is no doubts, they will again this year.
As women, mothers, daughters, partners, activists, it is time to rise and shine; to make some noise not just ourselves but for future generations and Mother Earth too. For those of us who joining a protest, because of health problems or busy schedule, that is fine. Find your own unique way to participate: write, paint, get some female friends around. Be gentle with yourself. Take loving care of yourselves the best you can. Treat yourself! It all matters, it all counts. Use the #IWD2023 #EmbraceEquity
Sylvie
You can also read on Winter Turns to Spring:
Enough with The Abuse and Control of Women and Children
Are there any safe places left for victims of sexual abuse ?
To learn more about the International Women's Day, watch the video below,
What is it Life Coaching? What isn't Life Coaching?
It is a
partnership between a Life Coach and a client.
The coach facilitates a safe space and creates a positive rapport in order for the client to identify the inner blocks to their goals, hindering their happiness. Life Coaching helps the client to identify their own goals, to find their own solutions and achieve personal growth and transformation.
Life Coaching isn’t therapy. Although we acknowledge most inner blocks have their roots in the client’s past, we don’t dwell deep on it (this is best done in a therapeutic setting), but, with the client’s permission, we can explore how the "Then and There" affects the "Here and Now", and how the client can move forward, with Self-Compassion.
If I feel a client could benefit from ongoing therapy, I will advise they do so.
My approach is trauma informed. What is trauma? What does "Trauma Informed" means and how does it fit in with Life Coaching?
Trauma is the impact any significant event that has a lasting adverse effect on an individual’s happiness and well-being. The earlier and the longer lasting the stressful event in an individual’s life, the deeper the debilitating effect on a person’s happiness and well-being are.
“Trauma-informed coaching happens when the coach understands what trauma is, how it presents in the coaching room and how to respond. All this, within established coaching boundaries and contracts.”
Julia Vaughan Smith –
Coaching and Trauma
I have personal and professional experience of trauma and have a real understanding of its impact on mind, body and spirit.
What is Self-Compassion?
Self-compassion is extending compassion to oneself in instances of perceived inadequacy, failure, or general suffering.
Dr Kristin Neff,
PhD, has pioneered and defines self-compassion as being composed of three main components –
mindfulness, common humanity, and self-kindness.
Self-compassion is facing our deepest fears, outdated self-beliefs and our perceived inadequacies with loving kindness towards oneself, by learning to take the time to acknowledge when we are hurting (Mindfulness) , by reminding ourselves how suffering is part of the our human experience and we all experience it (to some degree), we aren’t as alone as we think we are (common Humanity ) and, finally, by taking time to sooth and to love ourselves though our pain as we would with a dear friend of ours (Self-Kindness).
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How does Self-Compassion and Trauma Informed Coaching work?
Oftentimes, our deepest fears, outdated self-beliefs and perceived inadequacies, are the very things blocking us from creating a happy, fulfilled life, and building happy relationships, tailored to our needs and aspirations.
These blocks have roots in our past, whether we are aware of this or not, and will impact our thoughts, feeling and our behaviour as well as on how we perceive ourselves and the world around us. The more severe a past trauma, such as Child Sexual Abuse, the stronger the blocks, which are survival/ defence mechanisms created in childhood in order to survive extreme violence and neglect.
They are also natural responses to abuse and neglect,
when the child really has no one to turn to.
In Coaching, there is an opportunity for the client to explore how the past has an impact on the present and focus on what the client can achieve NOW by becoming their own best friend through anything life throws at them and by having compassion for what they have been through. I will provide the space, the support and some tools (such as reading materials, meditations practice etc...), when necessary, to support clients on their journey.
The coaching process will be led by the client. It will be tailored to the client’s needs, with the client’s approval.
The coaching will be most effective if the client is willing and ready to commit
100% to their journey of self-discovery and healing. During Trauma Informed and Self- Compassion based Life Coaching sessions, the client will learn to approach their biggest blocks and find their inner resources of loving kindness and compassion towards themselves.
Contact Me
Notice Board
Zoom or Teams
For those who would prefer to have their Life Coaching sessions, remotely, I use Zoom and Microsoft Team.
Venues for face-to-face sessions
TBC
Life Coaching sessions available from January 2023
My Fees
- 30 Minutes Skype/ Zoom or phone
assessment:
FREE
-
Full price
-
£80. (8 to 10 sessions
in total.)
-Concession prices: £60 (8 to 10 sessions in total.)
If you are experiencing financial hardship, such as unemployment or long-term disability, I offer limited places on concession fees. Please, contact me to discuss.
All payments via bank transfer.
