THE DISSERTATION ATTACK

Dissertation. This single word seems to be enough to explain everything I feel when I say it or read it. But I think it is something that only those who have done a dissertation can completely understand. In a way, I’m glad to have been a part of something that students go through all over the world. We all feel each other’s pain; we’re on the same wavelength and for once, everyone agrees on one thing:  it is an exhausting process that for several months on end, takes over your life completely, and everytime you panic and have a sort of break down, you just know you have to pick yourself back up again and keep going because...well...you have no choice if you want to finish your degree. We all use words such as: Chapters, Abstract, Methodology, Research Philosophy, Key Findings, SPSS software, Ackowledgements, and the fine details of Harvard Referencing. I feel this unites us. This first picture is perfect and its actually a question I had to keep asking myself, and I had to keep reminding myself that I WANT A GOOD DEGREE!! I WANT TO GRADUATE!! I WANT TO WEAR THAT GOWN!! I WANT AT LEAST A 2.1. And all of that means dedication and a constant search for self-motivation deep within our being.

While I was searching for pictures for this blog, several pictures on Google were quite funny and I really wanted to share this one in particular. This picture shows the worst defences for dissertations but they all feel quite true to a certain extent.

I have never in my life dedicated so much time to coursework. I mean..I have spent many long nights working on assignments but never to this extent. It has literally been my life for several months. Night and day. 3 or 4 hours sleep whenever I had the time. However, seeing the end result is very satisfying, albeit scary. Its strange seeing such a big project finally finished and its a very weird feeling. I submitted it last week Monday, 21^st March and I can honestly say I was happy with the end result. Now I will be checking my grades every day frantically, as I CAN’T WAIT to see the results!!! Even though I haven’t finished my degree yet, it does feel like a big part or phase of my life has finished.

This picture is also quite good, as it felt like every breathing moment was about my Dissertation. Constantly floating in your head. Dreaming about it even. I don’t think there are words to really describe this process.

Good luck to everyone who will do a Dissertation one day. 

International Women’s Day!

Now here is a day worth celebrating! Two days ago, people from all around the world got together to celebrate International Women’s Day and its 100^th Anniversary. When I say all around the world I mean it literally:

-          Millennium Bridge in London

-          Brooklyn Bridge in New York City

-          Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco

-          Grand Barriere Bridge joining Rwanda and Congo

Along with many other bridges worldwide.

This day is of particular importance to me at the moment due to my Dissertation as it regards Gender Inequality and Gendered Practices. During my research I have found out that progress in this area has been superbly slow, but made nonetheless. Women are asserting themselves more and more, especially in our generation as we have been brought up in an era of equal opportunities. Women are advancing faster than men after they graduate and reaching senior positions faster, however the glass ceiling phenomenon continues to exist as women go higher up in the hierarchy. The gender pay gap continues to exist with a disadvantage for women of around 22%, on average, in the US and the UK, however the percentages change depending on which sector they’re in. Additionally, young women are negotiating their first salaries as effectively as young men.  Also with regards to the work-family challenge, family-friendly policies have been attempted in many organisations resulting in some positive changes, however the household and childcare responsibilities continue to be a burden which falls mainly on women/mothers regardless of their job and working pattern. In my research I have found that the underlying reason for these continuing problems, is actually society and social constructs that people still hold regarding gender roles. Success in these areas cannot be reached until changes of a more fundamental and private way are actively addressed.

Women have been fighting this never ending battle for years and years and even in Egypt women were in the frontline of the protests. The suffragettes of the 1960s paved the way for us to continue fighting for change and they remind us never to give up. There are thousands of strong women around the world who continue to be treated like second class citizens but they never cease to make their voices heard and fight for something so basic and fundamental – OUR HUMAN RIGHTS!!

I will never understand where this inequality truly began..perhaps religion truly caused it all in the first place, but at some point we lost a battle against men and we need to level the playing field with all the fight we have within us. It wasn’t that long ago that some women were revered as Goddesses and treated with the respect they deserve.

 It is always good to remember that behind every powerful man in the world, there is a strong woman beside him. We just need to be at the forefront and stop hindering our lives in order to submit to the needs of men and allow them victory.