As the 'pink offers' calm down, it's time to reflect on the true status of Women in our region. 1- The value of funding to female-led startups has dropped from 11% (2017 & 2018) [Arabnet] to 1.3% in 2021 and 2022. [Wamda ومضة x Digital Digest الموجز الرقمي] https://lnkd.in/detYUkgY 2- Excluding the UAE, most Arab Countries rank among the bottom 20 on the latest 'Women, Business and the Law 2023' index issued by The World Bank, as well as recording the highest disparity in the world when it comes to access to rights and protections. https://lnkd.in/dTiuEp4c 3- A recent report by the UN Women for Arab States group shows the disproportionate amount of harassment & abuse that females face online; 60% of females face some form or the other of online harassment/violence, and 44% report that that violence has moved to offline settings as well. https://lnkd.in/dP5-tKFV Females work twice as hard to carve their rights, protect future generations (both male and female), and improve their access to opportunities. The conversation and policies needed to improve Women's safety, access to basic rights, equal opportunity, entrepreneurship, and advancement cannot be replaced by free cupcakes and roses. Female leaders are just as susceptible to disrespect and abuse as teenage girls online and offline. We as a society, market, or region will always be as weak as our weakest members, marginalized, silenced, and abused. The only way forward is to acknowledge where we stand, identify the issues, and build strategies for change.