How do we truly wished we celebrated International Women's day in 2026?
Veraia Life is a business created by 2 passionate ladies, who wanted to change the world of health tracking and wellbeing. Being a female led start up, we of course have a lot of thought on celebrating women and what this means.
We sat down with our Founder Deyana, who shared her vision around women empowerment, women’s health and where she wishes the world is when it comes to celebrating the 8th of March.
Back in the now far far away 2019, I said in an interview that I wish we did not have to make such a big fuss of Women’s Day because I wished we did not have distinguish between successes, recognition and appreciation for women – I wish we came to a moment where that was the default. Unfortunately even today, 7 years later I still think we need to make a fuss around International Women’s Day, even more than before. With such controversial rhetoric coming from across the pond where Women’s rights keep on being diminished, we need to keep the conversation alive and I am so glad I have a platform to share my thoughts.
I sometimes think, I may be naive by believing we have/can move beyond this conversation. As some recent experiences have made me think that we are still very far from achieving full gender equality in every room.
What is this 'female' conversation about?
First I want to talk about the places where I would not like my gender to play a role in the narrative.
I recently sat in a number of rooms where a certain senior executive kept on providing ‘female’ examples.
How ‘females’ should be used in marketing, how ‘females’ cannot be attracted to the pub if there is sports, how ‘females’ in advertising evoke certain feelings – I won’t name them because I do not want these words to pollute my page. I thought to myself is it the 90s calling? Did I magically get transported back to the future? How are these words coming out of this person’s mouth in a room full of people, including many said females? It got me thinking that I have become naive and complacent. The conversation isn’t close to being over or won. I think every woman can come up with at least one example of a similar situation in the last month, what is left for the last year.
I have never considered myself being less or more for being born a female. I just consider myself being a human, the same as every other human out there. I realise though that as a society we are not there yet. There are still people who see gender, who think it is OK to comment on said gender in a way that is more than frowned upon. These people are still allowed to do that from a position of power.
This is why I write this today, to remind any other woman out there who may be sitting in a room feeling small because someone decided to diminish her existence to her gender – I see you. We will keep the conversation alive while people like that exist, to remind them that gender has nothing to do with how awesome, successful, ambitious and visionary a woman can be.
Female research in healthcare
Moving onto the next point I have been pondering for awhile is research that is specifically engaging with females. This is where gender should play a pivot role. This is the conversation I would like to hear where doctors, researchers and pharmacists say – hey you are a woman, this will work better for you.
A lot has been said about the Covid vaccines, and I do not want to go into the overall debate about their production and roll out. However, one thing is for sure. The vaccines were not tested specifically on a female cohort to understand their interactions with the female body. Biologically we do have certain aspects that we differ to biological males. It is a known fact that biological females react differently (potentially) to vaccines versus biological males. According to Nature Communications Medicine only 8.8% of vaccine trials have a dedicated sex differentiation testing.
These numbers make me truly pause. In 2026, in the 21st Century, after medicine has advanced to the state of it today – researchers still ‘forget’ that male and female bodies work differently and respond differently to medication and/or vaccination.
While I never want to be generalised as a female in the boardroom and receive any type of ‘special’ treatment or mentions due to my gender, in a room full of middle aged males, there are places I would love to be considered as a female. In Healthcare and health related research. How my body works differently. How medication can impact me differently. How can the health industry serve me better as a female?
The stories of pain dismissal by doctors, who do not understand the female body. Women suffering silently with endometriosis, heavy periods, chronic pain and so on. Hormonal imbalances that just get overlooked or not tested at all, leaving the person feeling inadequate for years at times. These are the female led conversations I would like to have, and this is why I am building Veraia Life. This is not about the promotion of the app, this is about frustration that created an outcome.
I want a conversation that leads to change. I want to create a product that helps women have these conversations with their doctors confidently and not to be brushed off. Because on International Women’s Day and every other day women should be respected, listened to and supported.
Happy International Women’s day ladies, remember every day is your day, and you should be celebrated just for being you.