Hi guys, I’m aware that this is slightly late given that International Woman’s Day was on March the 8th, but I’ve been up to my neck in revision-even now, I’m writing from the library! As always, thank you for reading-I’d like to hear your thoughts on the issue!
Stay safe,
Bea x
I don’t know how to feel about International Woman’s Day. As a young person who advocates complete gender equality, for the first time in a long time, I don’t entirely know where my stance on this particular issue lies.
It is said that the day is in commemoration of women across the world-with the purpose of making a stand for those who are consistently ridiculed and belittled by a prevalent patriarchy. For those who are ignored and those who are subjected to ongoing sexual assault as a result of their gender. On behalf of women across the globe, trapped in abusive relationships and under oppressive laws, I commend the opportunity to acknowledge the less fortunate.
And, let’s face it, with the rise of the ever-sexual media, women’s intelligence and non-superficial qualities are often ignored here, too; that’s without the issue of the taboos of menopause-that no one dares to speak of in fear of being viewed as “unattractive” and having exceeded the stage in their life in which they can be viewed in a sexual light, even if this is what they wish for.
We live in a world that does, has always, viewed women as second class citizens.
I do not want to demonise men-99% of whom are decent and thoughtful individuals. Only yesterday, I was having a conversation with the father of a five year old girl, who told me about the pain and angst caused by a viewpoint held by the general population that he would want to harm a child in any way, shape or form. To use his exact words, he told me “I saw a small child fall off the climbing frame the other day, and the parents weren’t around. But I felt that, if I were to go over and ask if they were okay, I would be accused of something horrible”.
In many, many ways the world is unjust towards the male of the species, too: and there’s no excusing that.
But being a woman has its own specific stigmas and challenges that only she can experience. If we consider this country to hold misogynistic beliefs about the monthly cycle, imagine the life of a twelve year old child in the third world, confined to her room and unable to leave over the misconceived fear of “contaminating” the family home. Periods are a fact of life for half of the population-and yet we live in angst about using the toilets at school and work, mortified by the very idea of someone discovering our secret. Similar to the issue of breastfeeding, women are shamed into silence regarding some of the most natural aspects of daily life. There comes a time in which the world must acknowledge that the female body has not solely evolved for male pleasure, but as a complex system for reproduction-a fundamental part of life that deserves recognition as we suffer from the cramps, the pain, the acne, and the blood-flow for around a quarter of our lives.
I think the hardest part of International Woman’s Day, is, for me, the bitter reminder that we still need one.
This article really caught my attention as I feel like you address a controversial issue often neglected in today’s mainstream. I don’t disagree that there is still sexism and discrimination that must be eliminated in society, but I feel as though addressing two separate days for females and males only adds to this division. Women continue to rally together to fight for equality, and although it could be argued that having international women’s day and international men’s day is equal, if we were truly equal we would not feel the need to have either. The focus should not be on gender, but on people. We all need to come back to the simplicity of this concept. I really enjoyed your writing in this piece, I think you may enjoy some of my blog posts as I try to discuss controversial issues as well. Thanks and enjoy!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hello, thank you so much for your comment! I couldn’t agree more. Women and men do have individual issues, and we all need to work together to resolve these-there should be no battle of the sexes. Okay, I will take a look now! Sorry for the delayed response 😊
LikeLike
I understand your confusion. Our nation enjoys so many freedoms for both genders. It’s so difficult to see women in America as marginalized when there are females in different countries that are subjected to far worse subjugation!
I skipped the women’s day stuff and the marches, etc. I had to work, lolz. I don’t know what it feels like to be in this “patriarchal society” many people talk about. The slightest hint of misogyny in my circle is swiftly shut down and eliminated, so my friends and co-workers are not subjected to that sort of thing.
My personal life is also one absent of sexist issues, as well. I simply don’t allow it in, so it’s not an issue for me. I can’t relate to those issues, as much as I’d like to understand. As a woman (now in my 40’s), I’ve never had to tolerated being treated as less than and I don’t see it happening anywhere else in my life, either.
I believe that if a woman feels like she’s being treated “less than”, then she should do something about it on the spot. I don’t see how marching and claiming on a podium in the streets that you want to blow up the white house helps. 😉
Hope you’ve been well, grasshopper!
JM
LikeLiked by 1 person
I didn’t see this until now, sorry! 🙂 Although women are subjected to far worse in different countries, it’s still sad to think that we are living in a time where the most powerful man in the world has claimed “you can do anything when you’ve powerful” and “grab them by the pussy”. Marches are necessary as most people are powerless in that situation-what can we do to stop Trump from saying such things? Not a lot, unfortunately :(.
I’m 16 and I experience discrimination because of my gender on an almost daily basis. I believe that we need to keep on pushing for total equality until everyone in society has achieved this 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I admire your position! 🙂
I don’t think the marches helped, honestly. And Trump did say some stupid things, yes. Many would even describe him as misogynistic, piggish, even.
But, alas, he is our commander in chief. We’re stuck with him for at least the next 4 years. We might as well respect the position, since many of us cannot seem to respect the man.
Hope you’re well! ❥
LikeLike
I don’t think I’ll ever be able to respect Trump 😉 I hope you’re well too, take care! ♥
LikeLiked by 1 person
Maybe not him, but at least the position, as I said? Maybe? 🙂 hugs…
LikeLiked by 1 person
The idea of democracy is good, but the people are not always 🙂 And you, take care!:) x
LikeLiked by 1 person
I really do believe because women are often times belittle, that why these days are so important for us to let our voices heard.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I understand that point, and agree! It’s just a shame there is still a need for it in the 21st century 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
So true!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I loved your stance on this – and agree that women aren’t just for men and deserve more for all the things we have to deal with
LikeLike
Thank you so much Ivy! That’s very true 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
No problem!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I feel like the inequality for men isn’t as spoken about nearly as much as it is for women.
LikeLike
I guess that’s because, across the world, women face discrimination so frequently-in third world countries women are raped and abused daily and that is something that is seen as normal and almost expected. They’re treated like dogs, really.
But I do certainly agree with you that men have issues that need addressing, too-such as male suicide rates, rights over children, the pressure to be “masculine”. It is not an easy world we live in, and it saddens me that we cannot all live in peace and understanding.
Hopefully one day soon things will change? 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I totally agree, across the scale of the whole world, women have a massive disadvantage, when compared to men. I think I heard somewhere that they is only one country in the world, where women are treated equal to or better than men, I think it was a Scandinavian country.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, I heard that too and I can imagine it would be somewhere like Denmark or Sweden. It’s very sad. I also heard somewhere that the only job women earn, on average, more than men is to be a porn star. Which is very telling indeed 😦 x
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hmm. That is really interesting. About the job thing. Although, I’m not surprised.
LikeLiked by 1 person
There is an international men’s day too… just FYI.
LikeLiked by 1 person
True-although you could also say that the other 364 days of the year are days for men: particularly in less developed countries where women are the property of men. Thank you for reading! 🙂
LikeLike