Medical Doctor and Women’s Mental Wellness Advocate, Dr. Irene Quarshie, has urged society to be more intentional about how young girls are raised.
Her comment comes as Ghana joins the world in celebrating International Women’s Day on March 8, 2025.
Speaking to ABC News GH, Doctor Quarshie emphasized the need to move beyond traditional gender norms that subtly reinforce stereotypes.
“We need to be intentional about how we are socializing our daughters,” she stated.
“It’s great to buy them dolls, but that shouldn’t be the only thing. Subconsciously, we feed into the stereotype that their roles are limited to care and nurture. We must expand their perspectives.”
Dr. Quarshie also stressed the importance of economic empowerment, particularly regarding caregiving responsibilities, which are disproportionately placed on women.
“Caregiving has to be done, but over 70% of it is unpaid,” she noted, referencing Brazil’s approach to mainstreaming caregiving as a recognized and paid profession. “If we start making it a paid role, then it’s not such a big deal anymore.”
Furthermore, she highlighted the importance of investing in women for leadership roles, citing Canada’s initiative of funding female political candidates.
“Let’s actually train the young ones coming up,” she urged, reinforcing the need for Ghana to take decisive steps in bridging the leadership gap for women.
As Ghana continues discussions on affirmative action and the implementation of a 30% quota for women in leadership, Dr. Quarshie’s message serves as a reminder that true equality begins with dismantling stereotypes at an early stage.
