As part of the charge against this rampant gender inequality, UN Women organised a Comic and Cartoon Competition in Europe to highlight the struggles of being a woman in a man's world. Image Courtesy: iStock
'This has always been a man's world, and none of the reasons that have been offered in explanation have seemed adequate.' - Simone de Beauvoir (1908 -1986)
Despite over half a century gone by, this quote is still painfully true. For every victory claimed in the cause of feminism, there are several instances of gender bias, stereotyping, discrimination and denial of even basic rights to women everywhere. Across the world, developed and developing, the story is one of lopsidedness - unequal pay, unequal opportunities, unequal rights.
As part of the charge against this rampant gender inequality, UN Women organised a Comic and Cartoon Competition in Europe to highlight the struggles of being a woman in a man's world. Participants (all between 18 and 28 years of age) were asked to portray their understanding of women's rights and, more importantly, depict a kaleidoscopic view of this fractured world with a woman at the looking end of it.
Here are 12 illustrations by the winners and other finalists, with explanations in their own words, which make a perfect case for the need to discuss existing gaps.
Artist: Emilio Morales Ruiz, Spain
About the cartoon: "Gender inequality is still visible today. Even the smallest acts are important steps for solving this global problem."
"Fighting for women's rights has too often become synonymous with man-hating...(T)his has to stop. For the record, feminism by definition is: 'The belief that men and women should have equal rights and opportunities'" - Emma Watson, actress
Artist: David Ibanez Bordallo, Spain
About the cartoon: "Stop telling stories, you are superpowerful"
"People call me a feminist whenever I express sentiments that differentiate me from a doormat or a prostitute" - Rebecca West, author
Artist: Samuel Akinfenwa Onwusa, Spain
About the cartoon: "My comic reflects the rejection and intolerance that is given to women in job interviews, ignoring the education or knowledge they have for the position."
"For most of history, Anonymous was a woman" - Virginia Woolf, author
Artist: Aleksi Siirtola, Finland
About the cartoon: "My picture depicts how women can work toward equality without compromising who they are. The goal of equality is universal."
"I hate to hear you talk about all women as if they were fine ladies instead of rational creatures. None of us want to be in calm waters all our lives" - Jane Austen in Persuasion
Artist: Agata Hop, Poland
About the cartoon: "The cartoon portrays today's sad reality in an amusing way. While the man is riding an escalator to success, the woman has to climb the ladder carrying a lot of burden."
"The question isn't who's going to let me; it's who's going to stop me." - Ayn Rand, author
Artist: Aitor Lopez Garcia, Spain
About the cartoon: "Gender inequality (a)ffects everyone - men and women alike."
"Men are from Earth, women are from Earth. Deal with it." - George Carlin, comedian
Artist: Joanna Grochulska, Poland
About the cartoon: "Women have a lot of strength. They can fix the world. And what is more important - they are already doing it!"
"I hate men who are afraid of women's strength." - Anais Nin, author
Artist: Clara Mar Hernandez Lopez, Spain
"The thing women have yet to learn is nobody gives you power. You just take it. " - Roseanne Barr, comedian
Artist: Laurence Herfs, Netherlands
"We need women at all levels, including the top, to change the dynamic, reshape the conversation, to make sure women's voices are heard and heeded, not overlooked and ignored." - Sheryl Sandberg, COO - Facebook
Artist: Olga Schikunov, Germany
"A feminist is anyone who recognizes the equality and full humanity of women and men" - Gloria Steinem, activist
Artist: Jakub Topor, Poland
"To terrify children with the image of hell, to consider women an inferior creation-is that good for the world?" - Christopher Hitchens, journalist
Artist: Mariola Stachnik, Poland
'Feminism isn't about making women stronger. Women are already strong. It's about changing the way the world perceives that strength.' - GD Anderson, author
Note: 20 years ago in Beijing, 189 nations of the world pledged to remove obstacles to gender equality and adopted the Beijing Declaration & Platform for Action. This Comic and Cartoon Competition on Gender Equality was organized to celebrate the 20th year. The comics and cartoons could not include text. Finalists were selected by a jury composed of professional comic artists, gender equality experts and communication experts. All pictures taken from http://beijing20.unwomen.org/