In order to pursue equality between all genders, we must recognise diversity

Equality is an important theme for Valo, a student and transgender activist from Helsinki. Valo believes that we should listen to young people and pay more attention to gender diversity and the specific nature of the problems faced by each gender.
One helping of gender equality, please!

The aspects of European Youth Goal number 2, Equality of all genders, include equal rights, ending gender-based discrimination and violence, equality in the labour market, eliminating stereotypical gender roles and embracing diverse gender identities. When you ask Valo Vesikauris, a young person from Helsinki, what they sound like, the response is a laugh:

“Yes, more of all this, please! One of each.”

Then Valo turns serious and points out that, when we aim for gender equality, the objective should really be equality for each and every gender, and we should remember what the special characteristics of the different genders are that we should pay attention to.

“For example, when we talk about the sexual violence, hate speech, harassment, safety issues and lack of pay equality faced by women, the challenges of cis women (whose gender identity corresponds to the sex determined at birth) and women with a trans background are partly the same, but partly also very different. On the other hand, men face structural discrimination in the form of military service. Men also suffer from mental health problems and commit suicide statistically more often than women. Men’s narrowly defined and toxic culture of masculinity harms not only women but also men themselves”, Valo analyses and continues:

“As a genderqueer person myself, it often annoys me that even today, the discussion on gender equality is summed up as equality between men and women. Gender diversity and the entire spectrum of genders are often forgotten.”

Because of Valo’s minority status, trans people’s rights are a natural topic on which Valo strives to exert influence. A year ago, Valo was involved in setting up a new organisation, the Trans association. Its activities have rapidly got off to a good start, and it has also received funding for its Solidarity Project from the European Solidarity Corps.

“We want the whole trans community to have the tools for defending their rights”, Valo explains the idea behind the project, which consists of workshops on activist themes.

On the other hand, all this has also been influenced by the evolution of Valo’s personal drive to exert influence.

“Ever since I was a child, I have had a pretty strong sense of justice. Although they keep telling us that Finland is the happiest country in the world, our gender equality situation is good and we are pioneers of an equal welfare society, there has been little or no progress in many things, and discriminatory attitudes and practices can be found in every structure and institution, from politics to the world of school, working life and upbringing. I have learned to recognise areas of inequality and started becoming angry: this is not how it should be, we have to do something about it!”

Future in the youth, hope in the community
Valo had done years of volunteer work with young people before the Trans association and finds strengthening and respecting the voice of young people in society important. Valo also believes that young people want and know how to participate, as long as channels for this are provided and they are made aware of everything that civic participation can be.

“In the world of school, young people could be given concrete options, for example giving them the possibility to influence theme days, the time the school day starts, school lunches... Through such things, we could get across the message that they have the right to say their opinion and show which solutions would work for them. You do not have to accept everything that is handed down from above.”

Valo believes that young people are the group that finds it the easiest to let go of outdated stereotypes and norms and learn to regard equality between people and genders as normal and diversity as the new standard.

“I would like to believe that at some point, gender issues would no longer be something extraordinary, topics of debate and a cause for shock. Diversity would be a matter of routine. As a trans person, you would not have to consider in every situation whether or not you should come out, and the whole concept of coming out could be discarded", Valo visualises.

However, Valo is concerned because there seems to be a backlash against every movement that promotes progress in society. As an activist, Valo has also received a fair share of harassment.

On the other hand, Valo has been delighted to see that people finally are more interested and talk about trans persons and their rights.

“The sense of togetherness and communal spirit give me hope. The idea that us transgender people, for example, can work together to try and influence matters that concern us. For example, the 'Right to be' citizen’s initiative has felt empowering. It is easier to be an optimist and strive for a hopeful future than to keep worrying. You could feel bad endlessly and about everything. Personally, I think it’s better and healthier to focus on hope – that way you can achieve more.”

Updated on Среда, 13/04/2022