International Women's Day acknowledged but the movement is still lagging behind

THE WOODLANDS, Texas -- International Women’s Day, celebrated every March 8, commemorates the advancements of women, but also serves to keep their challenges to the forefront.

Originally Women’s Day reflected on women’s protests to low wages and inhumane working conditions in New York City’s garment industry. The fire in the Triangle Waist Company building which killed 146 young immigrant workers on March 25 in 1911, brought their plight to light.

In 1975, the United Nations made March 8 the official date for International Women’s Day, which is now celebrated around the globe. Its widespread meaning is now to raise awareness of the continued human rights violations of women, the inequality of leadership positions in the political arena and corporate boardrooms, and salary inequality.

Although there is no celebratory event in The Woodlands on this day, the Woodlands Township’s past Chairman of the Board of Directors, Nelda Blair, and a prominent attorney, had the distinction of chairing the 2013 Economic Outlook Conference on March 8, at The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel and Convention Center. One of the few women in local politics, Blair is currently the Chairman of the Board of The Woodlands Convention and Visitors Bureau, Chairman of the Board of Regents for the University of Houston, and on the board for the Greater Houston Women’s Chamber of Commerce.

A benevolent philanthropist, she serves and has served, on the boards for numerous Montgomery County non-profit organizations. The world of non-profits has been ideally suited to women, who are touted as the nurturing species. This is one area in Montgomery County where women have been able to rise to the top and make a significant contribution.

Aside from the non-profits, politics, and corporate America, Blair said there is a real concern on the part of the members of the Women’s Chamber, that there are not more women in the fields of science, engineering, and mathematics.

“We’re finding out that we have to start working with girls as early as 4th grade if we’re going groom more women for these highly-specialized fields,” said Blair. "We have to get to them before the peer pressure does."

On this day when we recognize the advancements of women, the local status quo appears sorely lacking. This begs the following questions…Is there an insufficient pool of qualified candidates? Not enough mentors? Apathy among the feminine gender? Or even worse, a refusal to consider those well-qualified? Where are these binders of women?

“We not only have to be an example to young women, we have to mentor them,” said Blair. “We not only have to show them that they can be anything they want to be, but help them achieve it. And the men have to be a part of this process too.”

Instead of just acknowledging International Women’s Day, a plan of action needs to be implemented if The Woodlands is truly going to reflect the community as a whole. Otherwise, this article a year to the date, will be unchanged, and so will The Woodlands.