International Women’s Day
It may seem odd that I, as a man, am about to reflect on what International Women’s Day. And while I seriously understand the importance of allowing oppressed groups to have their uninterrupted spotlight and to share their voices, I believe hearing other viewpoints always encourages empathy and understanding. That being said, this is what I think about International Women’s Day.
International Women’s Day most closely relates to Sustainable Development Goal #5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. The staggering facts on the United Nations’ page for this goal leaves no room for misunderstanding, dismissal or disagreement about the importance of gender equality. The most impactful to me was “Women already spend about 2.5 times as many hours as men on unpaid domestic and care work.”
International Women’s Day has always been divided into two parts: one for reflecting on the tremendous accomplishments women have made thus far, and the other for calling to action changes that will address the many problems our society still holds in gender equality. I usually find it more productive to look at what we can do next, so that is what I will focus on here.
First and foremost is acknowledgement. So many people entirely deny women’s oppression in our modern society, calling it “a thing of the past.” This entirely ruins any woman’s chances of truly becoming equal to a man because in the man’s eyes, they were never unequal. This also invalidates any actions that significantly worsened a woman’s life. The first step towards remedying some of these actions is to acknowledge their harm. We cannot keep silencing women.
Next is looking for solutions. In all of my exposure to cultures different than the one I experience every day in Los Angeles, I have found completely different ways of treating women. In some, the woman is seen as a slave to the man. In others, the woman is as precious and in need of constant protection from the dangers in the world. There are even cultures that put women as the most powerful and deserving in the entire societal structure. None of these grant women equality. Granting women equality starts with men treating women as equals at home. Allowing girls and boys to play with the same toys. Allowing girls and boys to study the same subjects. Allowing men and women to work the same jobs. Allowing men and women to receive the same pay. Until we meet some of the most basic criteria, women will never be equal to men.
It is no longer a burden for women to solve gender inequality. It is a duty for men. Men are the oppressors, and so they must also be the ones to stop the oppression. I hope this post will lead you to look at the way you treat women in your everyday life. Acknowledge the ways you treat women and see if you truly are as accepting and empowering as you think you are.
