My aunt and female empowerment
I loved the way she spoke, so eloquent and calm. I can still remember her beautiful face and disarming smile, her thick mane of hair always perfectly styled. I used to watch her speeches on the local TV and in my childish eyes I wanted to be like her when I grow up – my aunt, Kosara Gochkova.
Today is 8th of March – International Woman’s Day, one of the most important days for female empowerment and there is no other person that truly symbolises to me what this day means.
She is a true pioneer who broke the glass ceiling years before many women in some western countries had the right to vote. Her career span from a high school principal in the 1960’s, followed by university dean in the 1970’s to becoming minister of education in the 1980’s. She has written numerous educational grammar books, as well as poetry books, that have been part of the high school curriculum for almost 50 years.
Growing up in a socialist country, equality between gender was a norm and governed by law. My mother as well as many of my other female relatives held a university degree and good work positions. Led by my aunt they set an example at early stages in my life. I was taught to follow my path with hard work and resolve, determination and integrity. My mother and, especially my aunt imparted to me the importance of seeing myself as an individual, striving to contribute to society whilst realising my unique talents.
I started working after university. My chosen career path brought me in the early 1990’s to Switzerland. I was appointed to manage the head office of a medium size international trading company. I accepted the challenge with enthusiasm and looked forward to a modern western society. It is however in this very country and its institutions, and not within the company I was working for, that I was first time confronted with gender and age bias as well as ethnic discrimination. It was in Switzerland that my employers were advised just how unlikely it was for a young woman to hold those credentials, especially from one of “those” countries.” I was confronted with situations, when senior members of a major auditing firm as well as some senior members of major banks would refuse to meet with me due to my age and gender. I remember how affected and shocked I was!
I chose however not to be overwhelmed by anger, nor did I join any feminist groups. On the contrary, I was even more motivated to continue my path paved on knowledge, resolve and integrity. I formed a team of mainly young ladies and together we started to break the local gender norms and boundaries. After some years, I was offered a management job in a major commodity trading house. I strived to impart to many women, both colleagues and subordinates, that the real empowerment lies in yourself. My belief has been same as the great Gandhi – ‘Be the change you wish to see in the world’. I believe this to be the most effective way to bring forward changes in a society and its norms.
There is much more I could write on the importance of female empowerment, as one of the topics I remain passionate about. That even though we still have some ways to go, glass ceiling can be broken and gender bias should not be a deterrent but rather a motivational factor. It requires competence, patience, strength and resolve.
Throughout the years the image of my beautiful aunt never left me. Her legacy remains my biggest inspiration, as above all she taught me to lead by example.
My aunt in 2017 when she was 86 years, old accepting a Lifetime achievement award in recognition of her contribution to the educational, literary and cultural spheres in the Republic of Macedonia and previously Yugoslavia.
She is accompanied by her daughter – my cousin Tatjana Gochkova, who is a Professor at the State University.
Klara Zetkin and Rosa Luxemburg in 1910 – The symbol and inspiration for female empowerment