Connecting cultures, raising voices: the role of translation in the empowerment of women
March is the month Aglatech14 has chosen to celebrate women. We are a company with a workforce comprised of 90% women, and we want to emphasize this at a time when our rights are not always guaranteed. We fight to achieve gender equality and to affirm our desire to be present and to matter for our communities, regardless of political, religious, and social orientations.
Knowledge is the most useful tool we have to enhance our position in any field. Languages, in this sense, allow us to overcome physical and ideological boundaries to reach unexplored territories and life goals.
Women around the world face unique cultural challenges that may limit their opportunities for social and economic participation. However, translation emerges as a powerful means to overcome these barriers and promote women’s empowerment.
The importance of translation in accessing information
Translation plays a crucial role in ensuring that vital information is accessible to all women, regardless of their native language. Through the transposition of documents, educational resources, and information materials, women can obtain essential knowledge on topics such as health, human rights, and employment opportunities. This enables them to make informed decisions and actively participate in public and political life.
Translation as a tool for inclusion and cultural diversity
In many communities, women belong to ethnic or cultural minority groups, which can pose additional challenges related to language and communication. Translation not only facilitates mutual understanding between people from different cultures, but also promotes respect and inclusion of the perspectives of women from these communities.
Allowing them to fully express themselves in their native language contributes to preserving and appreciating cultural diversity within society. The impossibility of translating a text is also important: it teaches us the importance that each word has within the cultural context in which it originates: Utepils, for example, is a Swedish term that literally means ‘being outside on a sunny day enjoying a beer’.
Using translation to promote female leadership
Women’s empowerment, however, is not only about access to resources and opportunities, but also about the recognition and enhancement of women’s abilities and skills. Translation can play a key role in enhancing the voices of women in the fields of politics, economics, and community leadership. By facilitating the spread of their ideas and perspectives globally, translation helps break gender biases and promotes cultural change that fosters gender equality and women’s empowerment. History has also taught us this.
Translation and women’s empowerment: past, present, and future
Translation has played a crucial role in achieving significant historical milestones for women. For instance, the reproduction of documents concerning reproductive rights, like international treaties and national laws, has played a vital role in promoting awareness and advocacy for women’s rights in terms of reproductive health. This includes facilitating access to contraception, ensuring safe abortion, and improving maternal healthcare. Through translation, feminist ideas and women’s rights movements have been shared and disseminated globally, leaving a lasting impact.
Through translation, women’s voices have transcended linguistic and cultural boundaries, fostering increased awareness and solidarity. This has paved the way for the establishment of international support networks and played a pivotal role in advocating for substantial changes in gender equality policies and laws.
Here are some examples:
- Literacy in African regions: the translation of educational materials into local languages has empowered women in various African regions by providing them with access to education. This breakthrough has disrupted the cycles of poverty and discrimination, significantly improving their job prospects and societal involvement.
- Inclusion of immigrant women: by translating legal documents, information on public services, and integration programs, immigrant women have gained access to the rights and resources needed for successful integration into the host society. This has not only enhanced their autonomy but also improved their opportunities for personal and professional development.
- Access to government careers for women: globally, translating political speeches, laws, and official documents into local languages has played a crucial role in providing women with access to information and opportunities. This empowerment has enabled women to actively participate in politics and attain leadership positions in government. A notable example is the growing presence of women in significant political roles, exemplified by the election of several women as Presidents of regions and Mayors in recent Italian elections.
- Empowering women through cultural representation: translating literary works, films, and television programs has been instrumental in empowering women by fostering diversity and inclusion in cultural narratives. This process allows women to find positive role models and inspiration as they see themselves represented in various forms of media.
- Active participation in international organisations: translation of documents and communications into the official languages of international organizations has empowered women to actively participate in global initiatives promoting human rights, peace, and sustainable development. This increased involvement enhances their influence and capacity to make a meaningful impact on a global scale.
Today, we are challenged to go even further: not yielding to those who argue that artificial intelligence will replace our work, particularly in a field like the linguistic industry, where there is a significant female presence. Instead, we must learn to harness technology in translation, enhancing our skills and persisting in our struggles. We have an advantage over others: we are women, and we will continue to strive to achieve the successes we deserve.
The women of Aglatech14
(in collaboration with Alessia Cornali – Creative copywriter)
