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Mouvement Mondial des Travailleurs Chrétiens World Movement of Christian Workers Movimiento Mundial de Trabajadores Cristianos Weltbewegung Christlicher Arbeitnehmer |
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MESSAGE FROM MMTC FOR INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY 2026
In celebrating International Women’s Day, the World Movement of Christian Workers (MMTC) pays tribute to countless women workers who dedicate themselves wholeheartedly to the survival and well-being of their families and to society as a whole. We do not forget, however, the unjust working conditions, discrimination, and violence that far too many women continue to endure across the world.
We rejoice in the significant progress achieved by women in their quest for autonomy and resilience. The awareness of their capacities, together with the strengthening of their self-confidence, propels them each day to the forefront of transformation and leadership in our societies.
On International Women’s Day 2026, we propose that the testimony of Joëlle, member of the Réunion movement, shed light on our reflection and inspire our future actions in favor of women’s empowerment worldwide.
Legacy of Fighting Women
My mother lived according to the traditional model: managing the household and raising the children. She was economically dependent on her husband. When he suddenly passed away, she found herself in extreme precariousness. To survive, she accepted arduous work without ever complaining, while bearing the full family burden alone and, above all, keeping her trust in God. This situation, shared by many women, shows how the absence of economic autonomy leaves them vulnerable to life’s uncertainties.
I benefited from a different social context. Education enabled me to access employment and become an actor of my own destiny—I experienced women’s emancipation. Married young and mother of three children, I first entered working life to support my household, as my husband was unemployed. My commitment, seriousness, and skills quickly earned me a permanent contract, followed by advancement to a better-paid position. Despite family responsibilities, I resumed my studies and obtained the baccalaureate.
When applying for higher education, I experienced my first discrimination when my supervisor deliberately opposed my candidacy, judged less of a priority—illustrating deeply unequal working conditions.
Later, during an internal promotion, I was excluded despite my good results. I then discovered that my union involvement was not well regarded, and that implicit criteria linked to appearance and beauty reminded us that women are still too often judged by their image rather than their skills.
As the only woman elected to the works council, I also observed how decision-making spaces remain dominated by men. My union commitment brought heavy pressures and responsibilities, but above all allowed me to defend employees during a restructuring plan, improve working conditions, and fight against wage inequalities.
Alongside my professional career, my daily life remained demanding: managing the household, raising three children, and caring for my elderly mother. This “double day,” largely borne by women, still illustrates the unequal distribution of domestic and family tasks, despite women’s growing participation in the labor market.
This life is not only mine, but that of many women in my country and around the world. Whether working at home or outside, women remain essential pillars, too often confronted with injustice, precariousness, or discrimination. My strength—our strength—lies in our perseverance, our dignity, and our inner beauty, far removed from the superficial criteria often imposed by society.
Despite the modernization of our society, the need to strengthen women’s rights, denounce professional discrimination, and fully recognize their role—often invisible yet indispensable in society—remains urgent and relevant.
Joëlle,
Member of MTKR (MTC Réunion)
