Speaker: Lu Qiao, Staff Systems Engineer, The Home Depot
What does Women’s Equality Day mean to you?
Lu Qiao: Women's Equality Day means a lot to me. I came from a culture where families have long favored sons over the daughters. I am thankful that my parents treat me equally as my brothers and offer me equal education opportunities. But I've seen many of my female friends who were not able to overcome this barrier. And they were trapped by it for their entire life. I consider women equality is the foundation for the balance of the society. As a wife, a mom, and a security professional, I am grateful that I feel equally treated as men in my family, my community, and at work. I am lucky to be where I am today because of all the other women's hard work. But I know there are still some gender gaps, such as the salary gap and many others. I feel responsible of moving women equality forward among with all other women for our next women's generations. I plan on Women's Equality Day to educate my six years old daughter that it is as expected she treats and is treated equally as the boys. I also plan on that day send appreciation notes to my female friends and colleagues who have been encouraging and inspiring me all the time. "We can't wait for equality to happen. We have to make it happen." This is from Shelley Zalis, The CEO of The Female Quotient. It is so well said that we have to make it happen and we will make it happen all together.
