Hi,
Today is International Women's Day. This year marks the 30th Anniversary and our theme in Canada is Ending Violence Against Women: Action for Real Results (well, that might be the theme for the whole world, but don't quote me on that).
I am all for that! (As an aside, I am all for ending violence against everyone, but that's a whole other post.) In fact, I'm sure most of you reading this are supportive of this year's theme; otherwise you probably wouldn't be reading my blog and you probably wouldn't like me much. So, great! Now what do we do?
First, how many of you knew it was International Women's day today? Or that it is International Women's Week (March 4th - 10th)? I'm not entirely sure how I know, but I have a good memory. You don't have to answer, it's a rhetorical question. Second, how many of us (social workers & teachers excepted) have any idea what to do about ending violence against women? Sure, if we're actually being violent towards women in our lives, we could stop that, but what if we're not? What if we don't know anyone (that we are aware of) who is a victim of violence (domestic or otherwise)? What is the average person to do? Third (and last), why do women need an international day? Women are alive, empowered, celebrated, exploited, oppressed, mutilated, beaten and murdered every day. Why make one special?
Since you're not actually here to answer my questions, I'm going answer them for you to the best of my humble abilities. I'm going to bet that most of you (> 65% of you) did not know that today is International Women's Day. I know that it is today because I possess a good liberal arts education (something that can never be repossessed and is worth way more than most people give it credit for) from a world-class university. I know because I try to be socially aware of issues affecting Canadians, and women and society in general. I know because I read a lot.
Second, how do we (the average Janes and Joes) end violence against women if we're not actually committing it? That's a good question... and I'm guessing that most of you don't have an answer to that one either. So how do we take action for real results? If you read the articles you can find on the web, it seems that most of the people in the western world are saying the same things... they're pledging to do more to close the gender gap and the wage gap. The men in countries with slightly less equality are going to make a more concerted effort to stop violating women and girls. They're going to try not to use acid to disfigure women and girls as a form of punishment. (Hmmm...) But what can we do? How do we close the wage gap? How do we end the exploitation of women and girls? How do we change a global way of thinking? I still don't have an answer for that one folks, and I don't think that anyone else does yet either. If you can come up with one, I would really like to hear it.
Thirdly, why do women need an international day? Men don't have an international day. What's so special about us? Well, what's not? We're not asking anyone to get us cards, so this isn't like a Hallmark holiday. Why do we need a day? It's kind of like celebrating Valentine's Day only a lot more important. We (everybody in the world) need to be reminded that women have been subserviant to men for all of human history and while some of us (western women) have attained a number of rights, many more of us have not. We need to be reminded that women are subjected to violence of all types every day. We need to be reminded not to shut our eyes and ears to the signs of violence happening around us every day. We need to be reminded that women are still seen as subservient to men, even in western society, and will continue to be so until everyone acknowledges the oppression and subservience and recognizes that people are people and deserve equal rights and treatment regardless of gender (ethnicity, religious belief, etc.). Men don't need an international day because they have everything: they have all the power and all the rights. We don't need to be reminded of that. They're the ones we had to ask permission from when we wanted the right to vote, or own land, or attend universities.
So, please at least help by making sure that your words and actions do not lead to violence or oppression in any way. Even if you're not always aware of it, just laughing at the jokes conveys the message that you agree with the subject matter. Watching the movies and buying the magazines is directly supporting the oppression and sexual subservience of women. I don't intend to sound too preachy, but I don't think I can put this any other way.
Happy International Women's Day my friends!
Drive safe peeps,
2 comments:
Word.
You raise many good points with which I whole heartedly agree.
You also raise some points about magazines and movies. I'm curious as to what you're talking about here. Are you referring to "Lad Mags" a la Maxim and the like? Women's magazines like Cosmo and Vogue? Cheesecake like Playboy?
When does content in popular culture cross over from being fun entertainment to become damaging to the sisters?
Unfortunately there doesn't seem to be a line if you think about it. Sex sells; and implicit in the messages of even seemingly innocent advertising and 'teen' magazines is the idea that women/girls must be sexy for men who alone can make us happy with their power (and that's just in the women's magazines). That's a really simplistic way of putting it, but that's the bottom line.
The men's magazines only differ by degrees I think, but I have to say, I haven't seen/read them all.
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