To all you lovely women out there – have a Happy Day!

When International Womens Day comes round, each year, I feel I am committing to it more. When I first started to hear about it I shrugged it off – I have always felt that I could stand my ground if needed so I didn’t really feel I needed a day to celebrate it, or us.

As I get older – possibly more mature – I feel that celebrating our differences really is a positive thing in a world where everything seems to be a challenge.

I am Woman – I recently watched this film based on the story of Helen Reddy – and was inspired by her motivation to keep going, against the odds, to achieve at a superb level. There are many women like this, in a vast array of fields be it sport, film, music, absolutely everywhere – we probably don’t need to look very far to find a woman who has inspired us somehow. So for this – we should celebrate.

Another thought process for me is when I think about IWD I feel privileged, I live in a country where women can speak up without consequence, we can have our independence and be safe: and there are laws in place for anybody who tries to go against this. IWD makes me realise how lucky I am to have men and women who inspire me in my life – at home, as friends, at work, everywhere.

A question for you now – should I feel privileged? Or is this my unconscious bias thinking I should feel that way? Is it not just what is right? How life should be?

This year, I am thinking in particular of women who are currently being affected by the war in Ukraine. I watch the news and hear that women and children are given priority to get out of the country, with men in the Ukraine staying behind to fight for their country and independence. I have also read about the women staying behind to fight. This, for men or women, is incredible bravery, and I admire their passion, fight and really wish them well, and for end to all that is happening, and soon.

I have experienced sexist comments – I have experienced questioning about when was I getting married, then when was I having children….nobody else’s business to be quite frank. Nothing malicious – always in jest – and because of this never escalating I manage it no problem. It is up to me how I feel about it – and how I feel is that the people who have questioned me are small minded, they are wrong – I am happy with me, my choices, and I can cope with the nonsense because I know what I have chosen is right for me.

I happen to work in male dominated industries, in two separate areas; the red meat industry and the agricultural industry – they are linked of course as we are all producing food. In my career I have seen a change in the amount of women in each industry, there are more, and their roles are more prevalent – we see them more.

Women in Meat – my personal experience is that we now see a lot more women working in the industry – office and factory – and why not? There are vast range of opportunities within the industry. We have a way to go though, in general there are more men in very senior roles than women e.g. directors positions, I do believe this must be on merit, and from a fair playing field, but surely there could be a better balance? Do women try for these roles and not achieve success? Or do less women try? It is easy to assumer the former, but do we actually know what the barrier is here?

We often think of agriculture as a traditional industry, but red meat was a mans game from early on – and it is so interesting, and encouraging to see how this has changed. My experiences at Dunbia are very positive. I have been given so many opportunities (and taken them of course) and learnt a lot from the people I work with.

One the opportunities has been travel, including New Zealand, France, Ireland and America. It was 2012 when travelling in America and I was visiting abattoirs as part of a scholarship programme, with my husband in tow (there was a purpose to this visit, it is not what we usually do on a holiday). Everywhere where we went, we met with men – very few women, not even on the farms. Everywhere we went, they introduced themselves to my husband and welcomed him, until he put them straight and directed them to me. Quite funny, but it was unexpected, you could see in their faces they were genuinely taken aback. It made no difference, we were both treated very well, its just the surprise that made me smile.

Women in Agriculture – I like farming, and as we keep sheep there are physical challenges, I like these challenges and as a result I have been quite strong and able to do the tasks required (it has saved me a lot of money on gym membership too!). I wear what is appropriate, jeans, wellies, waterproof trousers, woolly hats, etc . On the other and, I like to be feminine, I enjoy that I am female, I like pink and yellow more than I like blue – I like to wear skirts, dresses and pretty shoes. I won’t be pushed about by anybody on these choices. I have been given options throughout my life, and I have made the choices I have wanted to.

We need to be sure we don’t disrespect women who have worked in agriculture long before us. I hear women saying that being called a farmers wife is insulting, but it isn’t, it is a vital role and one to be proud of, especially if you consider yourself to be one. In all honesty, the best businesses I come across are partnerships, men and women, farming together. If you are called the farmers wife but are the farmer, I understand that is frustrating, just correct them, and they will think twice about doing it again – and so hopefully you will aid change by taking this approach.

As part of celebrating today I have some household chores to do – I will be cleaning the bathroom and I will be cooking a meal tonight ready for when my husband comes home from work. BUT….and this is a big but….on the weekend my husband cleaned the house while I worked on the farm. It is about balance, respect and teamwork. Sometimes I embrace the stereotypical roles – and often I enjoy that. I love cooking, I love it when my husband enjoys a meal I have made (I do not enjoy cleaning). It is also good to challenge the stereotypes sometimes too.

Embracing how we are different is what should be celebrated today, and while we do this, remember the women who aren’t as fortunate and think about what we could be doing to support them.

Let’s see if we can be kind, respectful and good people and celebrate all that is good. Let’s help others less fortunate. I think this is what International Women’s Day is all about.

Thank you for reading x

#beatthebias

#womeninmeat

#womeninagriculture

#IWD