Renee Bamford
Staff Writer

An international panel of women gathered at Claremont McKenna College last week to honor International Women’s Day, an annual day of remembrance of the centuries-long struggle for equality.

Students, neighbors and members of the International Club joined together at McKenna Auditorium to celebrate this day that also represents progress women.

The women chosen to be a part of the panel were from cultures across the world including Zimbabwe, Pakistan, Venezuela, India, Malaysia and the United States. These women, whose recent generations were divided by great national boundaries and tradition, discussed their grandmothers’, their daughters’ and their own life experiences.

All from male dominated societies, these women discussed their struggle for justice and development while still trying to hold onto their long practiced traditions. Decorating the walls of the auditorium were goals that the United Nations have set to empower women. A theme that was noted in each panel member was the use of education as a strategy for moving forward.

Somjita Mitra, representing India, talked about women’s traditional roles in society and how her grandmother’s and mother’s generation started the revolution that veered away from these traditions and empowered women.

“We must not be limited, and learn to accept the fact that men are different than women, but are still equal,” Mitra said.

Mitra explained that even with her extensive education, she is not seen by the people of India as having accomplished anything until she gets married.

“As an Indian woman your only identity is as a wife and mother,” Mitra said.

Suat Yan Lai, representing Malaysia was awarded for her renowned accomplishments as an individual, as well as a woman.

“I define myself unchained by what society thinks a woman should be,” Lai said.

Kebokile Dengu-Zvobgo, representing Zimbabwe, spoke about her grandmother with great respect, explaining how she was the wife of a chief yet still held a role of power within her marriage.

She explained how her grandmother lived to be 102, but was never able to vote.

“Each generation has had their own battles as women and have all contributed to this struggle in their own way,” Dengu-Zvobgo said.

The event began with a lunch featuring foods from some of the countries represented including Malaysia, India, Venezuela and Pakistan.

The luncheon was followed by a program discussing “Roles of Women in my Country; My Grandmother, Myself, and My Daughter,” where a panel of women spoke about the differences of their cultures and how throughout their families’ generations they have grown and developed in the role of a woman. This celebration of International Women’s Day was used as a time to honor the women who struggled for equality and to take a closer look at women’s roles cross cultures.

Renee Bamford can be reached at belle_renee@yahoo.com.