Presentation at the first global edition of the Women Influence Community Forum (WIC-F) held in Paris, France, on 20 September, 2017, at the Ritz! Watch a short “teaser” video about WIC-F, Paris, 2017: https://youtu.be/UGzcuy562KA Read key insight from WIC-F, Paris, 2017: http://www.womeninfluence.club/media/key-ideas-and-insight-at-wic-f-paris-2017/ Read more information about WIC-F, Paris, 2017: http://www.womeninfluence.club/projects/wic-f-global-paris-2017-archive/ Follow the WIC-F Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/womeninfluencecommunity/

1. HOW MOTHERS CAN IMPROVE
THEIR INFLUENCE IN THE SOCIETY
ILHAME BOIRIE
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2. Who I am?: different answers
Woman
Health professional
Entrepreneur
« spouse »
Business woman
Volunteer
Mother
Daughter
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3. Influence society:
A DREAM…when I was a child
AN OBJECTIVE when I became a mother
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4. Mother influence…views picked in
Internet
« Mothers influence by example »
« Children look up to their mothers and often imitate their behavior. It is of paramount importance for mothers to set a
positive example for their children. The hypocritical old saying, "do as I say, not as I do" will not work. Children often repeat
whatever behavior they observe, regardless of what they are told. »
« Nurturing and love at home are key »
« Like sunshine and water are necessary for plants, children need to be loved and nurtured. Above all else, provide a home
that is full of love and safety for your children. Through this, they will not only gain a strong foundation of love, but will
also be more willing to accept what you are teaching them. »
Influence society only through children?
OK but current & concrete issues need current actions
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5. Love and caring
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6. And sometimes…
…Fight
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7. Make Mothers Matter
Make Mothers Matter (MMM) is an international non-political, non-denominational NGO founded in 1947 at UNESCO.
Its mission is to promote and support the essential role of mothers in the social, economic and cultural development of
societies.
MMM argues that supportive and informed mothers are key partners who need to be consulted and actively involved
in the development of projects and goals, including those that concern them.
In spite of the diversity of their situations, their living conditions and cultures, mothers all over the world have much
in common, in particular the concern for a better world for their children.
MMM emphasizes the universality and importance of the economic, social and cultural role of mothers based on their
skills and responsibility as first educators of their children.
Her advocacy work is centered on three areas of work that are particularly relevant to mothers:
Mothers and economy,
Mothers and Health
Mothers for Peace.
MMM intervenes at different levels:
International at the United Nations, the European Union and UNESCO
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« Improve humanity progress »

8. Our concerns, as mothers..
Citizens
Women
Mothers
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• Economy
• Health
• Peace

9. # ECONOMY
We are is concerned about the
often feminization of poverty,
the reconciliation of family and
work life, and the discrimination
faced by mothers in economic
life.
In developing countries, where infrastructure and public
services are often lacking, these problems are exacerbated and
mothers struggle to ensure a minimum of financial
independence.
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10. # ECONOMY
World Bank Report: Some figures on legal obstacles to
the economic empowerment of women
The 2016 World Bank report "Women, Business and the Law" shows that 90% of the 173
countries whose legislation has been examined have at least one law that discriminates
women (examples):
- Only 18 countries have no laws that disadvantage women
- In 35 countries women who survive their spouses do not have the same inheritance rights
as men, so not the same rights of access to property.
- In 18 countries, women must obtain the authorization of their spouses to work.
- Taxation in 16 countries directly favors men
- Only 9 countries have enacted laws requiring at least one woman to sit on the board of a
listed company
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11. # ECONOMY
Focus: Work and personal life balance 1/2
« The motherhood penalty »
Women and men participation in the labour market and therefore
accessibility to economic resources is unequal in Europe for
structural and social reasons. One main reason for that is
motherhood.
In addition to the support of their children and young adults,
more and more people - usually women - also have to take care of
their own parents or ensure a presence with the grandchildren.
Nursery/creche workplace adaptation Recognition
• Increase of creche places
• Promoting alternatives
•Flexible hours
• Maternity leave preparation
•Mother role
•Leadership skills
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12. The objective is to eliminate discriminatory practices by employers against women,
pregnant, on maternity leave or re-entering the labour market. It is far from being
achieved and it requires a change of outlook on maternity specifically and on parental
work in general.
A change of outlook from employers, but also from the parents themselves and from all of
us.
By caring for and educating their children, mothers are irreplaceable and most of the time
it is in the best interest of the child’s development. In doing so they are contributing to
society.
# ECONOMY
Focus: Work and personal life balance 2/2
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13. #2 HEALTH
Maternal and child health remains a major challenge for global health, beginning with the tragedy
of maternal mortality and morbidity, which is preventable in 99% of cases. MMM also denounces
obstetric violence, attacks on the dignity of mothers during perinatal care, as well as stress and
fatigue caused by poor reconciliation of family and work life and unequally distributed family
and domestic responsibilities ,
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14. #2 HEALTH
Our health concerns, as mothers
Common diseases
Medical research gender gap
Mothers
• Pregnancy
• Childbirth
• « Mental charge »
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15. #2 HEALTH
Obstetric violence
« I was told not to push for 30
minutes because it was shift
change »
« The doctor screamed at me and told
me I wasn’t “allowed” to have my
baby yet »
“Just get the epidural, stop trying to be a hero.”
- Guilty talks
- Imposed episiotomies
- Lack of pain management
- Lack of information and consent
- Abusive triggering
- …
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16. #2 HEALTH
Exhausted women syndrome…
Exhausted to think about « everything »
« Management, organization and
planning work that is both intangible,
unavoidable and constant, and whose
objectives are to satisfy everyone's
needs and the right walk from the
residence. » Nicole Brais of the
Université Laval de Québec
According to INSEE, in 2010 women accounted for 64% of domestic tasks and 71% of parenting tasks within households. In
1985, these rates were respectively 69% and 80%.
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17. the idea behind those scenes is that women, even if contribute at the same level (or even higher
sometimes) in terms of work time as men, are still responsible for the domestic tasks, and the
global family organisation: holidays booking, medical appointment, passeport renewing etc…
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#2 HEALTH
Exhausted women syndrome…

18. #3 PEACE
"If nonviolence is the law of humanity, the future belongs to women. Who can appeal to
the hearts of men more effectively than women? » Gandhi
The educational role of parents, especially the mother, is crucial. It is indeed within the family that the
emotional balance is constructed, and that the values on which an individual is built are transmitted. It
is also in the family that a child experiences his or her first experiences of security or distress, his or her
early learning of community life, and the peaceful or violent management of conflicts.
Mothers must realize that they are an important force to counter the multiple influences that
undermine society. And the authorities must recognize them as such.
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19. Mothers:
the next generation of feminists?
« The way a society treats mothers is an indicator of the way women are treated »
We militate not only for mothers but for women in general. We are convinced that
women values what we call feminine values are a response to current society problems.
As a consequence, a mother cannot suffer, she should not suffer anymore that humanity
is relayed to the second level, behind economical interests for instance.
A balance should be found between all the interests of our society and this balance
could not be achieved without the contributions of the first concerned,
The mothers.
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20. #LEAVENOMOTHERBEHIND
#MOTHERSFORCHANGE
Thank You
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