Earlier in the year, we caught up with Nightwish leader Floor Jansen for International Women’s Day, and the vocalist discussed both the progress and the backwards steps the world has taken when it comes to equality.
"The ongoing nightmares for many women on a daily basis? Or the fact that things are getting better? Maybe both, because both are true," she said. "The world is a safer place than ever. Women are getting heard more in this male-driven society and equality is getting there, more and more. More women dare to stand up and say no; unite and fight. Religion is losing ground, often a cause for much inequality and hypocritical superstitions.
"…International Women’s Day is for women but I’d like to think it’s not only celebrated by women," Floor continued. "That many men share the philosophy that their mothers, sisters, wives, girlfriends and daughters are their equals. To be loved and respected. We cannot better the world with one special day, but we can make it our daily job to leave the planet in better shape than what we found it in, for the next generation. As a mother I hope that my daughter will never need to hear about genital mutilation, rape, or human trafficking. That she grows up to be a strong and independent and loving woman with respect for all that lives – with the same ideal that we can make things better. One step at a time. With ongoing hope and focus on what’s right rather than what’s wrong."
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