International Women’s Day: Beyond Equality

Eliza ( seated 2nd left) with her hotel staff

8 March 2026

KOTA KINABALU: Today, 8 March, is International Women’s Day, a worldwide celebration honouring the achievements and contributions of women across many fields, including social, economic, cultural and political development.

Datuk Eliza Goh, an entrepreneur who runs a hotel, who had served as Kapitan Cina and active in Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) shares a candid and nuanced view of the celebration.

She perceives the day more as a "novelty" than a profound call for change. To her, International Women's Day is primarily a time to honor women's achievements, celebrate sisterhood, and acknowledge the collective progress women have made.

Eliza emphasises that, in her view, the day isn't necessarily about fighting for equality or addressing ongoing inequalities. Instead, she sees it as an occasion for women to come together, reflect on their successes, and remind themselves of their worth and contributions.

"For many women, International Women's Day serves as a moment of recognition, a day to enjoy a well-deserved break and to appreciate their efforts and accomplishments," she shared.

While she recognises the importance of advocacy and progress in the broader context, Eliza's perspective highlights the day’s role as a celebration of unity and achievement. It’s a reminder for women to feel proud of how far they have come and to enjoy a moment of camaraderie and self-affirmation.

She believes that much of the ongoing discussion about equality, such as why women aren’t represented enough in certain positions, is rooted in traditional thinking.

According to her, the new generation of men and women are increasingly breaking down these barriers.

She observes that in today’s era, the differences between men and women are less pronounced. She points out that women now have access to the same education as men, and research indicates that women often excel academically, even outperforming men in universities.

"The notion of inequality from birth is becoming less relevant in modern society.

The feelings of inequality stem from expectations."

Women might feel disappointed if they’re not treated with the level of consideration they anticipate or if societal and employer expectations are not met, she opines.

She emphasises that success today depends largely on individual effort and hard work, rather than gender.

When it comes to representation, she advocates for women to ensure they put in the necessary effort and to strive for leadership roles.

If women are adequately prepared and represented, she believes they can secure positions of influence. She also notes that employers and society are increasingly neutral, and women can even receive more support than men when they step forward as candidates, particularly in politics.

Eliza highlights that the key challenge is the low number of young women entering politics. Nonetheless, she praises the women politicians she knows, describing them as respectable and successful figures.

Ultimately, her message is one of empowerment, success is achievable through effort, and gender should no longer be a barrier to opportunity.