International Women's Day 2014 - is it necessary?

Today is International Women's Day. Established in 1911, it is nevertheless only something I heard about a few short years ago. The day is meant to recognise the achievements of our sisters in their fight for equality over the last hundred years or so, and also to raise awareness for the changes that still need to be made to ensure true gender equality worldwide. Two things struck me about the day:

 

Firstly, the number of women who still suffer as a result of their gender, both in developing countries, and, if the figures on UK domestic violence are correct, right here in Britain, presumably among ordinary women that we know. As someone who has never been discriminated against on the grounds of gender, I've never really related to feminists. To my mind, they either belong with the Birkenstock-clad bra-burners of the 60's or the militant throngs of the early 1900's, attacking Winston Churchill and policemen, but then giving it all up to terrorise Germans instead in 1914. I admired Mrs Pankhurst, but only because she was a fellow Salfordian, kicking ass, and even when we're all grown up, we still have that irrepressible desire from the playground to shout 'Fight, fight!' when it all kicks off. Perhaps that view of mine needs to change, and feminism is not done. Now how to inspire teenage girls to take on the mantle?

 

Secondly, Women's Day is a major thing in...Russia? So they do respect Human Rights, not of homosexuals of course, or of people in old satellite states who disagree with the Russian Government, but of women yes. Or do they? From what I can see, much like the Communist Russia of old, the day is a smokescreen, a nod of the head, a PR stunt, designed to make women feel a little bit special on the 8th March. Are the past achievements of women celebrated, and the current inequalities tackled side by side with male compatriots. Er, no. Women are bought flowers and chocolates for being women. It almost brings to mind the Red Army being paid in mind numbing vodka. Well done Putin.

We Day UK (Wembley 2014)

Friday saw the first We Day UK event at Wembley Arena in London. 12,000 students were awarded tickets after they made their pledges for local and global action this academic year. Among those were 14 students from my own school, who have pledged to fundraise for a global charity this year as well as bank volunteering hours for the most vulnerable in our local community. Like all the other students at Wembley on Friday, they will have benefitted greatly from the inspirational people, acts and other activists they saw.

All the speakers, singers, actors, sportspeople, etc. were brilliant for this one day event. Malala Yousafzai, Martine Wright, Spencer West et al. all had amazing stories to tell, and there is no substitute for hearing the words straight from the horses mouth. It is so easy today to be apathetic about terrible events like 7/7 for instance, going on in the news. Joaquin Phoenix' character in Hotel Rwanda summed it up well when he said that people watch terrible things happening throughout the world, vaguely think about them for a moment, and then carry on eating their cereal.

 

There was no chance of apathy from anyone in the energy inspired by We Day. Students heard from people who had overcome incredible odds to achieve great things; they heard about positive social change happening throughout the world right now, and they were shown students, just like themselves, who had already embarked on the path of social activism with successful results.

 

Emphasis was placed throughout on the fact that people don't have to be special to make a change. Prince Harry was right when he said that it just takes one act from each person to make the world a better place. This struck a chord with my students, who rightly feel empowered to take on the challenge of a local and global project from now until July.

 

I hope their energy and enthusiasm carries them through the challenge ahead. Good luck to all my students on their two projects!

http://www.weday.com/we-day-events/we-day-cities/we-day-uk/