Doris Leuthard, Switzerland

President and minister of environment, transport, energy and communications

‘Salaries. The differences between wages of men and women can be up to 20%. It happens to many women. Transparency helps, discussions about salaries are important. In upper management and leading positions in politics we still seem to be the minority. I encourage women to work on their career’

Photo: Ruben Sprich/Reuters

Mehwish Ekhlaque, Pakistan

Bike rider and trainer

‘When I planned a Pakistan bike tour, many of my male colleagues gave me advice not to do it as it’s neither safe nor easy for a woman. But I did it’

Photo: Akhtar Soomro/Reuters

Racio Larranaga, Peru

Surf instructor and competitor

‘I am the first woman to represent my country in national and international competitions since 1977. In 1995, I became a surf teacher. Lots of women surf and they are very good at it. I hope that in the future women have the same quota as men in professional competitions’

Photo: Guadalupe Pardo/Reuters

Mado, Brazil

Graffiti artist and painter

‘Once, a company did not want to hire me to paint a mural because they said that women could not carry the work material (paint boxes, ladders). I believe that things will only get better for all of us if men treat women equally’

Photo: Nacho Doce/Reuters

Khawla Sheikh, Jordan

Plumber and certified plumbing trainer

‘Housewives are more comfortable to have a female plumber in their house in the absence of their husbands. To tackle gender inequality, I think that all operating sectors must provide equal opportunities for men and women in all fields and each woman must believe in her capabilities and skills that she has in order to convince the others’

Photo: Muhammad Hamed/Reuters

Ivana, Serbia

Community Manager

‘Mainly you can see these (gender) gaps in state companies, which are relics of socialism. It is that standard belief where women are “the best” at being secretaries’

Photo: Marko Djurica/Reuters

Yolaina Chavez Talavera, Nicaragua

Firefighter

‘In my early days as a female firefighter, men, my team-mates, thought that I would not last long in the organisation due to the hard training. However, in practice I showed them that I am able to take on tasks at the same level as men. I think women must fight to break through in all areas, in the midst of the machismo that still persists in Nicaragua and in Hispanic countries’

Valerie Perron, France

Oyster farmer

‘It must not be forgotten that it is women, mums, who raise the boys. It is therefore up to us to change the mentalities by raising the boys at their youngest age, in a spirit of parity and equality with the woman. We must change the mentalities of early childhood education. A boy can play with dolls and a little girl with small cars’

Photo: Regis Duvignau/Reuters