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Wednesday March 8 marks International Women's Day, with festivals, concerts and exhibitions among the numerous events planned around the world to celebrate the achievements of women in society. The annual event has been held since the early 1900s and traditionally promotes a different theme each year, with this year's edition calling on people to #BeBoldForChange and push for a more gender-inclusive working world. Reuters photographers have been speaking with women in a range of professions around the world about their experiences of gender inequality. Here: Phung Thi Hai, 54, carries bricks at a factory outside Hanoi, Vietnam, February 27, 2017. Hai is among a group of 25 women working at a brick factory where she has to move 3,000 bricks a day to the kiln. “How unfair that a 54-year-old woman like me has to work and take care of the whole family. With the same work male labourers can get a better income. Not only me, all women in the village work very hard with no education, no insurance and no future”, Hai said. (Photo by Reuters/Kham)

Wednesday March 8 marks International Women's Day, with festivals, concerts and exhibitions among the numerous events planned around the world to celebrate the achievements of women in society. The annual event has been held since the early 1900s and traditionally promotes a different theme each year, with this year's edition calling on people to #BeBoldForChange and push for a more gender-inclusive working world. Reuters photographers have been speaking with women in a range of professions around the world about their experiences of gender inequality. Here: Phung Thi Hai, 54, carries bricks at a factory outside Hanoi, Vietnam, February 27, 2017. Hai is among a group of 25 women working at a brick factory where she has to move 3,000 bricks a day to the kiln. “How unfair that a 54-year-old woman like me has to work and take care of the whole family. With the same work male labourers can get a better income. Not only me, all women in the village work very hard with no education, no insurance and no future”, Hai said. (Photo by Reuters/Kham)



Mehwish Ekhlaque, 26, a bike rider and trainer, poses for a photograph with her bike in Karachi, Pakistan, February 28, 2017. “When I planned a Pakistan Bike Tour many of my male colleagues gave me a piece of advice not to do it as it's neither safe nor easy for a woman. But I did it”, Ekhlaque said. (Photo by Akhtar Soomro/Reuters)

Mehwish Ekhlaque, 26, a bike rider and trainer, poses for a photograph with her bike in Karachi, Pakistan, February 28, 2017. “When I planned a Pakistan Bike Tour many of my male colleagues gave me a piece of advice not to do it as it's neither safe nor easy for a woman. But I did it”, Ekhlaque said. (Photo by Akhtar Soomro/Reuters)



Ana Maria del Verdun Suarez, 27, a police officer, poses for a photograph in the outskirts of Montevideo City, Uruguay, February 23, 2017. “More women should be able to have jobs that traditionally were considered only for men. I believe that discrimination comes sometimes from all of us, it comes from the inside. There are already many professions that were exclusively male and are now performed by women”, Suarez said. (Photo by Andres Stapff/Reuters)

Ana Maria del Verdun Suarez, 27, a police officer, poses for a photograph in the outskirts of Montevideo City, Uruguay, February 23, 2017. “More women should be able to have jobs that traditionally were considered only for men. I believe that discrimination comes sometimes from all of us, it comes from the inside. There are already many professions that were exclusively male and are now performed by women”, Suarez said. (Photo by Andres Stapff/Reuters)



Elizabeth Mamani, 36, a reporter at Radio Union, poses inside Bolivia's national congress building in La Paz, Bolivia, February 22, 2017. “When I started in this job, I did feel discrimination (from officials who controlled the access of members of the press to events). To counter discrimination in this profession, we as women, must excel, we must prepare ourselves in every field”, Mamani said. (Photo by David Mercado/Reuters)

Elizabeth Mamani, 36, a reporter at Radio Union, poses inside Bolivia's national congress building in La Paz, Bolivia, February 22, 2017. “When I started in this job, I did feel discrimination (from officials who controlled the access of members of the press to events). To counter discrimination in this profession, we as women, must excel, we must prepare ourselves in every field”, Mamani said. (Photo by David Mercado/Reuters)



Mado, 34, a Brazilian artist, poses for a photograph in front of her artwork at Vila Madalena neighbourhood in Sao Paulo, Brazil, February 23, 2017. “Once a company did not want to hire me to paint a mural because they said that women could not carry the work material (paint boxes, ladders)”, Mado said. “I believe that things will only get better for all of us if men treat women equally”. (Photo by Nacho Doce/Reuters)

Mado, 34, a Brazilian artist, poses for a photograph in front of her artwork at Vila Madalena neighbourhood in Sao Paulo, Brazil, February 23, 2017. “Once a company did not want to hire me to paint a mural because they said that women could not carry the work material (paint boxes, ladders)”, Mado said. “I believe that things will only get better for all of us if men treat women equally”. (Photo by Nacho Doce/Reuters)



Deng Qiyan, 47, a mother of three and a decoration worker at contraction sites, poses for a photograph at an apartment building under construction in Beijing, China, February 22, 2017. “Sometimes (gender inequality) happens. But we cannot do anything about that. After all, you have to digest all those unhappy things and carry on”, Qiyan said. (Photo by Jason Lee/Reuters)

Deng Qiyan, 47, a mother of three and a decoration worker at contraction sites, poses for a photograph at an apartment building under construction in Beijing, China, February 22, 2017. “Sometimes (gender inequality) happens. But we cannot do anything about that. After all, you have to digest all those unhappy things and carry on”, Qiyan said. (Photo by Jason Lee/Reuters)



Serpil Cigdem, 44, an engine driver, poses for a photograph at Yenikapi station in Istanbul, Turkey, February 24, 2017. “When I applied for a job 23 years ago as an engine driver, I was told that it is a profession for men. I knew that during the written examination even if I got the same results with a male candidate, he would have been chosen. That's why I worked hard to pass the exam with a very good result ahead of the male candidates. In my opinion, gender inequality starts in our minds saying it's a male profession or it's a men job”, said Cigdem. (Photo by Osman Orsal/Reuters)

Serpil Cigdem, 44, an engine driver, poses for a photograph at Yenikapi station in Istanbul, Turkey, February 24, 2017. “When I applied for a job 23 years ago as an engine driver, I was told that it is a profession for men. I knew that during the written examination even if I got the same results with a male candidate, he would have been chosen. That's why I worked hard to pass the exam with a very good result ahead of the male candidates. In my opinion, gender inequality starts in our minds saying it's a male profession or it's a men job”, said Cigdem. (Photo by Osman Orsal/Reuters)



Ivonne Quintero, a chef, poses for a photograph at a restaurant in Mexico City, Mexico, February 26, 2017. “There are many limitations in the kitchen for being female. I had two men under my charge and they did not do what I asked them to do in the kitchen because I was a woman”, said Quintero. (Photo by Henry Romero/Reuters)

Ivonne Quintero, a chef, poses for a photograph at a restaurant in Mexico City, Mexico, February 26, 2017. “There are many limitations in the kitchen for being female. I had two men under my charge and they did not do what I asked them to do in the kitchen because I was a woman”, said Quintero. (Photo by Henry Romero/Reuters)



Januka Shrestha, 25, a Tuk Tuk driver, poses for a picture in Kathmandu, Nepal, February 26, 2017. “There is no difference in a vehicle driven by a woman and man. While driving on the road people sometimes try to dominate a vehicle especially when they see a woman driving it. People have even used foul language toward me. When this happens I keep quiet and work even harder to prove that we are as capable as men”, Shrestha said. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)

Januka Shrestha, 25, a Tuk Tuk driver, poses for a picture in Kathmandu, Nepal, February 26, 2017. “There is no difference in a vehicle driven by a woman and man. While driving on the road people sometimes try to dominate a vehicle especially when they see a woman driving it. People have even used foul language toward me. When this happens I keep quiet and work even harder to prove that we are as capable as men”, Shrestha said. (Photo by Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters)



Jauna Diaz, 43, a street sweeper, poses for a photograph as she woks on the street in Mexico City, Mexico, February 26, 2017. “In my previous job my boss gave preference to male colleagues and women always were paid later. ThatÕs why I changed jobs”, Diaz said. “To tackle gender inequality I think there needs to be more communication and information about women's rights in the work place”. (Photo by Carlos Jasso/Reuters)

Jauna Diaz, 43, a street sweeper, poses for a photograph as she woks on the street in Mexico City, Mexico, February 26, 2017. “In my previous job my boss gave preference to male colleagues and women always were paid later. ThatÕs why I changed jobs”, Diaz said. “To tackle gender inequality I think there needs to be more communication and information about women's rights in the work place”. (Photo by Carlos Jasso/Reuters)



Yolaina Chavez Talavera, 31, a firefighter, poses for a photograph in front of a truck at a fire station in Managua, Nicaragua, February 22, 2017. “In my early days as a female firefighter, men, my team mates, thought that I would not last long in the organisation due to the hard training. However, in practice I showed them that I am able to take on tasks at the same level as men. I think women must fight to break through in all areas, in the midst of the machismo that still persists in Nicaragua and in Hispanic countries”, Talavera said. (Photo by Oswaldo Rivas/Reuters)

Yolaina Chavez Talavera, 31, a firefighter, poses for a photograph in front of a truck at a fire station in Managua, Nicaragua, February 22, 2017. “In my early days as a female firefighter, men, my team mates, thought that I would not last long in the organisation due to the hard training. However, in practice I showed them that I am able to take on tasks at the same level as men. I think women must fight to break through in all areas, in the midst of the machismo that still persists in Nicaragua and in Hispanic countries”, Talavera said. (Photo by Oswaldo Rivas/Reuters)



Rosalina Dallago, 52, poses for a photograph at her shoeshine shop, Sciuscia Chic, in Rome, Italy, February 24, 2017. Former model Dallago owns three shoeshine shops. One of her shops is a tiny space on a narrow alleyway and is frequented mostly by lawmakers from the House of Parliament just around the corner. Her most loyal customers are legislators who stop by early in the morning on their way in. “Sciuscia” is the fractured phonetic pronunciation that poor street urchins in Naples would shout out to U.S. soldiers after World War Two to ask them if they wanted their shoes shined. “My customers see me as a professional before they see me as a woman”, said Dallago. “Mothers should instil a sense of gender equality in their sons”. (Photo by Alessandro Bianchi/Reuters)

Rosalina Dallago, 52, poses for a photograph at her shoeshine shop, Sciuscia Chic, in Rome, Italy, February 24, 2017. Former model Dallago owns three shoeshine shops. One of her shops is a tiny space on a narrow alleyway and is frequented mostly by lawmakers from the House of Parliament just around the corner. Her most loyal customers are legislators who stop by early in the morning on their way in. “Sciuscia” is the fractured phonetic pronunciation that poor street urchins in Naples would shout out to U.S. soldiers after World War Two to ask them if they wanted their shoes shined. “My customers see me as a professional before they see me as a woman”, said Dallago. “Mothers should instil a sense of gender equality in their sons”. (Photo by Alessandro Bianchi/Reuters)



Khawla Sheikh, 54, a plumber and a certified trainer, poses at her home's basement, where she gives plumbing training courses to other women, in Amman, Jordan, February 23, 2017. “Housewives are more comfortable to have a woman plumber in their house in the absence of their husbands”, said Sheikh. “To tackle gender inequality, I think that all operating sectors must provide equal opportunities for men and women in all fields and each woman must believe in her capabilities and skills that she has in order to convince the others”. (Photo by Muhammad Hamed/Reuters)

Khawla Sheikh, 54, a plumber and a certified trainer, poses at her home's basement, where she gives plumbing training courses to other women, in Amman, Jordan, February 23, 2017. “Housewives are more comfortable to have a woman plumber in their house in the absence of their husbands”, said Sheikh. “To tackle gender inequality, I think that all operating sectors must provide equal opportunities for men and women in all fields and each woman must believe in her capabilities and skills that she has in order to convince the others”. (Photo by Muhammad Hamed/Reuters)



Christine Akoth, 38, a metal painter, poses for a photograph in Kenya's capital Nairobi, February 27, 2017. “I have experienced gender bias at my work where sometimes I'm denied contracts because of who I am and maybe my marital status. Some female colleagues have been treated unfairly because of their s*x and even exploited”, Akoth said. (Photo by Thomas Mukoya/Reuters)

Christine Akoth, 38, a metal painter, poses for a photograph in Kenya's capital Nairobi, February 27, 2017. “I have experienced gender bias at my work where sometimes I'm denied contracts because of who I am and maybe my marital status. Some female colleagues have been treated unfairly because of their s*x and even exploited”, Akoth said. (Photo by Thomas Mukoya/Reuters)



Cristina Alvarez, 29, a butcher, poses for a photograph while standing outside her and her husband's butcher shop, in Mexico City, Mexico February 25, 2017. “I've never felt any gender inequality”, Alvarez said. “I believe women can do the same jobs as men and that there should be no discrimination”. (Photo by Jose Luis Gonzalez/Reuters)

Cristina Alvarez, 29, a butcher, poses for a photograph while standing outside her and her husband's butcher shop, in Mexico City, Mexico February 25, 2017. “I've never felt any gender inequality”, Alvarez said. “I believe women can do the same jobs as men and that there should be no discrimination”. (Photo by Jose Luis Gonzalez/Reuters)



Luisana Quero Duran, 32, a veterinarian, poses for a photograph with Nacho, a Schnauzer, at a clinic in Caracas, Venezuela, February 24, 2017. “The gender inequality that I'm aware of seems to me to be more on the part of the clients. To a certain extent, I am fortunate, having a university degree favours me a lot”, Duran said. (Photo by Marco Bello/Reuters)

Luisana Quero Duran, 32, a veterinarian, poses for a photograph with Nacho, a Schnauzer, at a clinic in Caracas, Venezuela, February 24, 2017. “The gender inequality that I'm aware of seems to me to be more on the part of the clients. To a certain extent, I am fortunate, having a university degree favours me a lot”, Duran said. (Photo by Marco Bello/Reuters)



Yanis Reina, 30, a gas station attendant, poses for a photograph at a gas station in Caracas, Venezuela February 24, 2017. “No doubt this is a job initially intended for men, because you have to be standing on the street all your shift, it is dirty, greasy and there is always a strong gasoline smell. I have to adapt the pants of my uniform because they are men's and make me look weird but I adore my work. My clients are like my relatives, they come here everyday and we chat a couple of minutes while the tank is being filled. They come every day because they feel safer to be served by a woman”, Reina said. “With the difficult situation that we have in Venezuela, having a job that covers your expenses is almost a luxury, but beyond that, I'm very proud of my job. I believe that now we, the women, have to be the warriors”, Reina said. (Photo by Carlos Garcia Rawlins/Reuters)

Yanis Reina, 30, a gas station attendant, poses for a photograph at a gas station in Caracas, Venezuela February 24, 2017. “No doubt this is a job initially intended for men, because you have to be standing on the street all your shift, it is dirty, greasy and there is always a strong gasoline smell. I have to adapt the pants of my uniform because they are men's and make me look weird but I adore my work. My clients are like my relatives, they come here everyday and we chat a couple of minutes while the tank is being filled. They come every day because they feel safer to be served by a woman”, Reina said. “With the difficult situation that we have in Venezuela, having a job that covers your expenses is almost a luxury, but beyond that, I'm very proud of my job. I believe that now we, the women, have to be the warriors”, Reina said. (Photo by Carlos Garcia Rawlins/Reuters)



Laila Sterk, 22, a Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) female fighter, poses for a photograph in the northeastern Syrian city of Hasaka, Syria, February 26, 2017. “Before becoming a fighter, I was suffering from inequality in society. But after joining the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), I didn't encounter that anymore”, said Sterk. “This is due to the fact that when men want to join the SDF they attend educational courses about women fighting alongside them. Therefore the woman fighter leads the military campaigns just like any man”. (Photo by Rodi Said/Reuters)

Laila Sterk, 22, a Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) female fighter, poses for a photograph in the northeastern Syrian city of Hasaka, Syria, February 26, 2017. “Before becoming a fighter, I was suffering from inequality in society. But after joining the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), I didn't encounter that anymore”, said Sterk. “This is due to the fact that when men want to join the SDF they attend educational courses about women fighting alongside them. Therefore the woman fighter leads the military campaigns just like any man”. (Photo by Rodi Said/Reuters)



Aneta Lukasiewicz, 33, a hairdresser, poses for a photograph at a hairdressing studio in Warsaw, Poland, February 23, 2017. “From my observation in this job there are more women hairdressers then men in Poland. But I think the number of male hairdressers is growing. From my experience women clients even prefer to have their hair cut by men, sometimes the reason is curiosity, but also it's a fashion”. (Photo by Kacper Pempel/Reuters)

Aneta Lukasiewicz, 33, a hairdresser, poses for a photograph at a hairdressing studio in Warsaw, Poland, February 23, 2017. “From my observation in this job there are more women hairdressers then men in Poland. But I think the number of male hairdressers is growing. From my experience women clients even prefer to have their hair cut by men, sometimes the reason is curiosity, but also it's a fashion”. (Photo by Kacper Pempel/Reuters)



Paloma Granero, 38, a skydiving instructor, poses for a photograph inside the wind tunnel at Windobona indoor skydiving in Madrid, Spain, February 24, 2017. “Men don't have to prove themselves like we do. We are tested every day”, Granero said. “The instruction jobs still go mostly to men, whereas the administrative jobs go mostly to women”. (Photo by Susana Vera/Reuters)

Paloma Granero, 38, a skydiving instructor, poses for a photograph inside the wind tunnel at Windobona indoor skydiving in Madrid, Spain, February 24, 2017. “Men don't have to prove themselves like we do. We are tested every day”, Granero said. “The instruction jobs still go mostly to men, whereas the administrative jobs go mostly to women”. (Photo by Susana Vera/Reuters)



Raquel Gomez Delgado, 43, a marine fishing inspector, poses on board a fishing boat at Punta del Moral port in Huelva, Spain, February 22, 2017. “In my opinion the only way to end gender inequality is through education in schools and bringing us examples of equality (in the media)”, Delgado said. (Photo by Juan Medina/Reuters)

Raquel Gomez Delgado, 43, a marine fishing inspector, poses on board a fishing boat at Punta del Moral port in Huelva, Spain, February 22, 2017. “In my opinion the only way to end gender inequality is through education in schools and bringing us examples of equality (in the media)”, Delgado said. (Photo by Juan Medina/Reuters)



Jeung Un, 27, a freelance photographer, poses for a portrait at a site which protesters have occupied, in central Seoul, South Korea, February 23, 2017. “Most news outlets prefer to employ male photographers. I feel strongly about gender inequality. When I cover violent scenes, sometimes I am harassed and hear sexually-biased remarks”, Un said. (Photo by Kim Hong-Ji/Reuters)

Jeung Un, 27, a freelance photographer, poses for a portrait at a site which protesters have occupied, in central Seoul, South Korea, February 23, 2017. “Most news outlets prefer to employ male photographers. I feel strongly about gender inequality. When I cover violent scenes, sometimes I am harassed and hear sexually-biased remarks”, Un said. (Photo by Kim Hong-Ji/Reuters)



Ivana, 32, a community manager, smiles in her home where she works in Belgrade, Serbia, February 21, 2017. “Mainly you can see these (gender) gaps in state companies, which are relics of socialism. It is that standard belief where women are “the best” at being secretaries”, Ivana said. (Photo by Marko Djurica/Reuters)

Ivana, 32, a community manager, smiles in her home where she works in Belgrade, Serbia, February 21, 2017. “Mainly you can see these (gender) gaps in state companies, which are relics of socialism. It is that standard belief where women are “the best” at being secretaries”, Ivana said. (Photo by Marko Djurica/Reuters)



Lejla Selimovic, 34, a furniture restorer, poses for a photograph at her workshop Wood Surgery in Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina, February 24, 2017. “In my country this is an unusual profession for a woman, but so far I have not met anyone seeing it in a negative context. People are often surprised, but essentially only interested in a job well done”, she said. (Photo by Dado Ruvic/Reuters)

Lejla Selimovic, 34, a furniture restorer, poses for a photograph at her workshop Wood Surgery in Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina, February 24, 2017. “In my country this is an unusual profession for a woman, but so far I have not met anyone seeing it in a negative context. People are often surprised, but essentially only interested in a job well done”, she said. (Photo by Dado Ruvic/Reuters)



Dr Catherine Reynolds, 37, a scientific researcher at Imperial College, poses for a picture at her laboratory in London, Britain February 22, 2017. “Women are very well represented at junior levels in Biological Sciences research. At a senior level it is still true that there are fewer female professors in science, but the gap is slowly closing”, Reynolds said. “More policies that promote flexible working and that support staff in taking career breaks (both men and women) are an essential way in which it is possible for employees, especially those with young families, to realise their full potential in the workplace”. (Photo by Dylan Martinez/Reuters)

Dr Catherine Reynolds, 37, a scientific researcher at Imperial College, poses for a picture at her laboratory in London, Britain February 22, 2017. “Women are very well represented at junior levels in Biological Sciences research. At a senior level it is still true that there are fewer female professors in science, but the gap is slowly closing”, Reynolds said. “More policies that promote flexible working and that support staff in taking career breaks (both men and women) are an essential way in which it is possible for employees, especially those with young families, to realise their full potential in the workplace”. (Photo by Dylan Martinez/Reuters)



Julia Argunova, 36, a mountaineering instructor, poses at 3,200 meters (10,499 feet) above sea level in the Tien Shan mountains near Almaty, Kazakhstan, February 17, 2017. “Physical strength benefits male colleagues in some situations on harder routes. But, women are more concentrated and meticulous. In general, women are better at teaching. My main professional task is to teach safe mountaineering”. (Photo by Shamil Zhumatov/Reuters)

Julia Argunova, 36, a mountaineering instructor, poses at 3,200 meters (10,499 feet) above sea level in the Tien Shan mountains near Almaty, Kazakhstan, February 17, 2017. “Physical strength benefits male colleagues in some situations on harder routes. But, women are more concentrated and meticulous. In general, women are better at teaching. My main professional task is to teach safe mountaineering”. (Photo by Shamil Zhumatov/Reuters)



Opening Doors Malta artistic director and dance practitioner Sandra Mifsud, 43, poses for a photograph at a rehearsal studio in Mosta, Malta, February 20, 2017. “In the world of professional dance, I've read about and I know of many more established male choreographers than female choreographers. I also know of many more female dancers than male dancers, the latter is the result of life choices as well as taboos associated with males and dance”, Mifsud said. (Photo by Darrin Zammit Lupi/Reuters)

Opening Doors Malta artistic director and dance practitioner Sandra Mifsud, 43, poses for a photograph at a rehearsal studio in Mosta, Malta, February 20, 2017. “In the world of professional dance, I've read about and I know of many more established male choreographers than female choreographers. I also know of many more female dancers than male dancers, the latter is the result of life choices as well as taboos associated with males and dance”, Mifsud said. (Photo by Darrin Zammit Lupi/Reuters)



Filipina Grace Ocol, 40, a backhoe operator, poses for a photograph in Tubay, Agusan del Sur, southern Philippines, February 16, 2017. Ocol, a mother of three, said, “There are a few female workers that can drive big trucks and backhoe. If men can do it, why can't women do it? I'm better than the men, they can only drive trucks here but I can drive both”. (Photo by Erik De Castro/Reuters)

Filipina Grace Ocol, 40, a backhoe operator, poses for a photograph in Tubay, Agusan del Sur, southern Philippines, February 16, 2017. Ocol, a mother of three, said, “There are a few female workers that can drive big trucks and backhoe. If men can do it, why can't women do it? I'm better than the men, they can only drive trucks here but I can drive both”. (Photo by Erik De Castro/Reuters)



Liz Azoulay, 26, who loads and unloads cargo at Ashdod port, poses for a photograph at the port, in Ashdod, southern Israel, February 22, 2017. “In most of my professional life I did not face any inequality. In the port of Ashdod we are equal on the docks. I am the first woman who began working at the Ashdod port as a stevedore”. (Photo by Amir Cohen/Reuters)

Liz Azoulay, 26, who loads and unloads cargo at Ashdod port, poses for a photograph at the port, in Ashdod, southern Israel, February 22, 2017. “In most of my professional life I did not face any inequality. In the port of Ashdod we are equal on the docks. I am the first woman who began working at the Ashdod port as a stevedore”. (Photo by Amir Cohen/Reuters)



Pilot Maria Uvarovskaya poses for a photograph in the A320 flight simulator at the Aeroflot training centre at Sheremetyevo airport outside Moscow, Russia, February 20, 2017. “Much more can be done by the women themselves to solve such problems (gender inequality)”, said Uvarovskaya. (Photo by Grigory Dukor/Reuters)

Pilot Maria Uvarovskaya poses for a photograph in the A320 flight simulator at the Aeroflot training centre at Sheremetyevo airport outside Moscow, Russia, February 20, 2017. “Much more can be done by the women themselves to solve such problems (gender inequality)”, said Uvarovskaya. (Photo by Grigory Dukor/Reuters)



Ekaterine Kvlividze, 30, a military pilot captain, poses for a photograph in front of a Georgian Air Force UH-1H helicopter in Tbilisi, Georgia, February 22, 2017. Kvlividze joined the Georgian Air Forces in 2007. “There were some difficulties at the beginning, I felt some irony, cynicism. I felt they did not appreciate me. But, thank God, during the last 10 years society has changed and nowadays a woman pilot is a normal thing”. (Photo by David Mdzinarishvili/Reuters)

Ekaterine Kvlividze, 30, a military pilot captain, poses for a photograph in front of a Georgian Air Force UH-1H helicopter in Tbilisi, Georgia, February 22, 2017. Kvlividze joined the Georgian Air Forces in 2007. “There were some difficulties at the beginning, I felt some irony, cynicism. I felt they did not appreciate me. But, thank God, during the last 10 years society has changed and nowadays a woman pilot is a normal thing”. (Photo by David Mdzinarishvili/Reuters)



Claudia Concha Parraguez, 45, a pole dancing instructor, poses for a photograph in a gym in Santiago, Chile February 23, 2017. “Some students with low self-esteem  smile more and feel beautiful after training. But because of the poor mentality of their husbands, who do not see this activity as a sport and associate it with something sexual, they stop attending classes”, Parraguez said. (Photo by Ivan Alvarado/Reuters)

Claudia Concha Parraguez, 45, a pole dancing instructor, poses for a photograph in a gym in Santiago, Chile February 23, 2017. “Some students with low self-esteem smile more and feel beautiful after training. But because of the poor mentality of their husbands, who do not see this activity as a sport and associate it with something sexual, they stop attending classes”, Parraguez said. (Photo by Ivan Alvarado/Reuters)



Swiss President and Minister of Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications, Doris Leuthard, 54, poses for a photograph on top of a roof next the Swiss Parliament in Bern, Switzerland February 24, 2017. Leuthard said she still sees gender inequality occur in the workplace. “Salaries. The differences between wages of men and women can be up to 20 percent.  It happens to many women. Transparency helps, discussions about salaries are important. In upper management and leading positions in politics we still seem to be the minority. I encourage women to work on their career”. (Photo by Ruben Sprich/Reuters)

Swiss President and Minister of Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications, Doris Leuthard, 54, poses for a photograph on top of a roof next the Swiss Parliament in Bern, Switzerland February 24, 2017. Leuthard said she still sees gender inequality occur in the workplace. “Salaries. The differences between wages of men and women can be up to 20 percent. It happens to many women. Transparency helps, discussions about salaries are important. In upper management and leading positions in politics we still seem to be the minority. I encourage women to work on their career”. (Photo by Ruben Sprich/Reuters)



Alice Temperley, 41, a fashion designer, poses for a portrait backstage of her catwalk show during London Fashion Week in London, Britain February 19, 2017. “I don't think the fashion industry suffers from it (gender inequality) like other industries necessarily. I do think though, I have to say, there's not that many women designers because the intensity of being the designer and the seasons and the churn of it and having children and being a woman, I think that's why a lot of bigger designers are men. I don't think that's a sexist thing, I think you have to be very strong to be able to take the pace... There are different issues in our industry”, Temperley said. (Photo by Neil Hall/Reuters)

Alice Temperley, 41, a fashion designer, poses for a portrait backstage of her catwalk show during London Fashion Week in London, Britain February 19, 2017. “I don't think the fashion industry suffers from it (gender inequality) like other industries necessarily. I do think though, I have to say, there's not that many women designers because the intensity of being the designer and the seasons and the churn of it and having children and being a woman, I think that's why a lot of bigger designers are men. I don't think that's a sexist thing, I think you have to be very strong to be able to take the pace... There are different issues in our industry”, Temperley said. (Photo by Neil Hall/Reuters)



Cilene Connolly, 32, a Royal Mail postwoman, poses for a portrait during her postal round on a residential street in Coventry, Britain, February 24, 2017. “Fortunately, I haven't been faced with gender inequalities in my role as a postwoman”, Connolly said. “I've had a great response from my customers for being a female delivering their post, women in particular are always pleasantly surprised to see a female face”. (Photo by Hannah McKay/Reuters)

Cilene Connolly, 32, a Royal Mail postwoman, poses for a portrait during her postal round on a residential street in Coventry, Britain, February 24, 2017. “Fortunately, I haven't been faced with gender inequalities in my role as a postwoman”, Connolly said. “I've had a great response from my customers for being a female delivering their post, women in particular are always pleasantly surprised to see a female face”. (Photo by Hannah McKay/Reuters)



Maxine Mallett, 52, a headteacher at Rutherford House School, poses for a photograph at the school's playground in south London, Britain, February 22, 2017. “The most stressful time of my career was when I had children. Women who return to work after having a child are sometimes treated with suspicion, as if they now lack commitment to the school when it is quite the opposite”, Mallett said. “We need to remove barriers and support all. Having a fulfilling career should not have to be a battle that you have to constantly fight”. (Photo by Stefan Wermuth/Reuters)

Maxine Mallett, 52, a headteacher at Rutherford House School, poses for a photograph at the school's playground in south London, Britain, February 22, 2017. “The most stressful time of my career was when I had children. Women who return to work after having a child are sometimes treated with suspicion, as if they now lack commitment to the school when it is quite the opposite”, Mallett said. “We need to remove barriers and support all. Having a fulfilling career should not have to be a battle that you have to constantly fight”. (Photo by Stefan Wermuth/Reuters)



Tara McCannel, 44, Associate Professor of Ophthalmology, M.D., Ph.D., Director of the Ophthalmic Oncology Center at the UCLA Stein Eye Institute of the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), is photographed in Los Angeles, California, U.S. February 27, 2017. “Women are held to a higher standard in knowledge, in abilities, in how the clinical practices go, in appearance”, McCannel said. “Women just can't be themselves or just think: “Oh I'm just going to do my work”, and focus on the job. There are these other things that need to be considered because it's not completely equal even though things are getting better”. (Photo by Lucy Nicholson/Reuters)

Tara McCannel, 44, Associate Professor of Ophthalmology, M.D., Ph.D., Director of the Ophthalmic Oncology Center at the UCLA Stein Eye Institute of the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), is photographed in Los Angeles, California, U.S. February 27, 2017. “Women are held to a higher standard in knowledge, in abilities, in how the clinical practices go, in appearance”, McCannel said. “Women just can't be themselves or just think: “Oh I'm just going to do my work”, and focus on the job. There are these other things that need to be considered because it's not completely equal even though things are getting better”. (Photo by Lucy Nicholson/Reuters)



Shinto priest Tomoe Ichino, 40, poses for a photograph at the Imado Shrine in Tokyo, Japan, February 22, 2017. “In general, people think being a Shinto priest is a man's profession. If you're a woman, they think you're a shrine maiden, or a supplementary priestess. People don't know women Shinto priests exist, so they think we can't perform rituals. Once, after I finished performing jiichinsai (ground-breaking ceremony), I was asked, 'So, when is the priest coming?'”, Ichino said. “When I first began working as a Shinto priest, because I was young and female, some people felt the blessing was different. They thought: 'I would have preferred your grandfather'. At first, I wore my grandfather's light green garment because I thought it's better to look like a man. But after a while I decided to be proud of the fact that I am a female priest and I began wearing a pink robe, like today. I thought I can be more confident if I stop thinking too much (about my gender)”. (Photo by Toru Hanai/Reuters)

Shinto priest Tomoe Ichino, 40, poses for a photograph at the Imado Shrine in Tokyo, Japan, February 22, 2017. “In general, people think being a Shinto priest is a man's profession. If you're a woman, they think you're a shrine maiden, or a supplementary priestess. People don't know women Shinto priests exist, so they think we can't perform rituals. Once, after I finished performing jiichinsai (ground-breaking ceremony), I was asked, 'So, when is the priest coming?'”, Ichino said. “When I first began working as a Shinto priest, because I was young and female, some people felt the blessing was different. They thought: 'I would have preferred your grandfather'. At first, I wore my grandfather's light green garment because I thought it's better to look like a man. But after a while I decided to be proud of the fact that I am a female priest and I began wearing a pink robe, like today. I thought I can be more confident if I stop thinking too much (about my gender)”. (Photo by Toru Hanai/Reuters)



Ram, 46, poses for a photograph at her stall at the flower market in Bangkok, Thailand, February 26, 2017. “In this market men do the hard jobs, they carry heavy things, load trucks”, said Ram. (Photo by Jorge Silva/Reuters)

Ram, 46, poses for a photograph at her stall at the flower market in Bangkok, Thailand, February 26, 2017. “In this market men do the hard jobs, they carry heavy things, load trucks”, said Ram. (Photo by Jorge Silva/Reuters)



Yuniko Chung, 24, a video game broadcaster, poses for a photograph in her office in Taipei, Taiwan, February 24, 2017. “I always hear people say that they never watch female gaming broadcasters as they rely only on their appearance rather than skills. I am not that type of broadcaster. I can play along with men. I am not using my face and my gender as advantage”, said Chung. (Photo by Tyrone Siu/Reuters)

Yuniko Chung, 24, a video game broadcaster, poses for a photograph in her office in Taipei, Taiwan, February 24, 2017. “I always hear people say that they never watch female gaming broadcasters as they rely only on their appearance rather than skills. I am not that type of broadcaster. I can play along with men. I am not using my face and my gender as advantage”, said Chung. (Photo by Tyrone Siu/Reuters)



Gabriela Santos, 26, a driver of carriages for tourists, poses next to Jeronimos monastery in Lisbon, Portugal February 23, 2017. “In my work it is better to be a woman than a man. Women have more sensitivity with horses. That is why employers prefer to hire women. Also tourists prefer a carriage driven by a woman”, Santos said. (Photo by Rafael Marchante/Reuters)

Gabriela Santos, 26, a driver of carriages for tourists, poses next to Jeronimos monastery in Lisbon, Portugal February 23, 2017. “In my work it is better to be a woman than a man. Women have more sensitivity with horses. That is why employers prefer to hire women. Also tourists prefer a carriage driven by a woman”, Santos said. (Photo by Rafael Marchante/Reuters)
04 Mar 2017 00:06:00