International Women’s Day
and I call myself a feminist…
I had no idea this day existed and thanks to the BBC’s World Have Your Say, I do now. With all the discussion ’round here lately, I’d say it was very timely-doncha think?
Question: Do you think we need an International Women’s Day? Why or Why not?
[ edit: It appears my blog sisters are familiar with this day and I must have been sleeping through the many posts touching on the subject in the past. See our archives for posts from Quimby and The Faithful Dissident and Artemis]
On the international level, most definitely. Women outside of the country are so oppressed in some places that I think it is good for everyone, women and men, to take a moment and think about what can be done. Perhaps it is a Kiva loan, perhaps it is something else.
In the U.S. it is interesting to me — we don’t have a Men’s Day — so is this restoring equality or doing more to separate it? I don’t know.
Comment by Bobby Pin Natalie — March 8, 2010 @ 1:43 pm
This is the first year that I’ve actually been aware of what day it is, but I’ve known about International Women’s Day for a while now.
I also think it’s more important for countries outside of the US, but it’s always important to raise awareness for women’s issues, no matter what country we’re in.
Comment by Amanda C — March 8, 2010 @ 2:43 pm
it’s also national peanut cluster day, which while not nearly as important, i find quite fitting :). but in answer to the question, yes, i think an international women’s day is a good thing, and think it should get much more publicity than i have seen for it. today was the first time i’d heard of it.
Comment by odc — March 8, 2010 @ 2:49 pm
Sarah Brown, our Prime Minister’s wife, is a huge advocate of IWD and has been tweeting about it for a couple of days now:
http://twitter.com/SarahBrown10
it is a very well known and recognised day here. Newspapers and radio programmes will have a guest woman editor for the day, and many activities are organised throughout the country.IWD gets much mention on tv programmes too.
Amanda, I’m quite surprised by your comment that it’s ‘more important for countries outside the US’. I have no desire to threadjack, but as long as you live in a country where a state can legislate to prosecute women who miscarry, I’d suggest women in the US need it too!
Comment by Anne (U.K) — March 8, 2010 @ 3:07 pm
Maybe I worded it poorly, but I never said that it wasn’t important for women in the US.
I do, however, tend to think that it’s *more* important in countries where women have NO rights, where FGM is an acceptable practice, where an 8-year-old girl can be married, etc.
Comment by Amanda C — March 8, 2010 @ 3:11 pm
I think this is a very important observance and wish it would get more attention in the U.S. In addition, the entire month of March is National Women’s History Month. Check out the National Women’s History Project for more information on how you can help “write women back into history” (their theme this year).
This is important because…
(Myra Plllack Sadker)
Comment by CatherineWO — March 8, 2010 @ 4:04 pm
I’m all for it. One day a year when usually invisible women and women’s issues can get some appreciation and celebration seems like a great idea.
As far as no men’s day, well it’s like how my parents would tell me that every day was kids day when I would complain about Mothers and Fathers day (I was such a brat). Every day is men’s day.
Of course, my now husband proposed to me on Int’l Women’s Day in celebration, so I may have a bit of a personal bias.
Comment by Genavee — March 8, 2010 @ 4:29 pm
When I was working in Honduras they gave everyone a gift certificate for a free hair straightening blowout for International Women’s Day. I have fine, flat Scandinavian hair, but it’s the thought that counts I guess
Comment by Jill — March 8, 2010 @ 4:55 pm
We don’t have a Men’s Day because every day is men’s day.
Comment by K.O. — March 8, 2010 @ 5:08 pm
Every day is men’s day? Especially for the men who are abused by women.
Comment by Kim Siever — March 8, 2010 @ 7:39 pm
Oh my gosh, how did I not know you guys existed?? I love this!
Comment by Foxy — March 8, 2010 @ 9:55 pm
I have a sweet memory of this when we lived in Brasil, I was standing in a long line at a bank, and all the women were given roses.
Plus, another year we were in England for Mothering Sunday, which seems to be about this same time of year–is it related?
Comment by Naismith — March 8, 2010 @ 10:56 pm
I like the day- it is celebrated in small pockets in the country where I live, but it isn’t large. I think at most women are encouraged to go to trainstations or public places and give flowers to other women as a token of sisterhood. I didn’t do anything for it this year.
I also think that if there is an international woman’s day there should be an international man’s day– I disagree that every day in man’s day– just ask a parent living in a 3rd world country who has just been given the choice of giving his son to the army or his daughter to a brothel — while history is often militaristically and therefore male based, it doesn’t mean that all men are selfish or sexist.
Comment by spunky — March 8, 2010 @ 11:05 pm
And this day has been promptly commercialized. HSN has International Women’s Month (IWM).
Comment by StarieNite — March 8, 2010 @ 11:44 pm
I was wished a “happy international women’s day” for the first time - had no idea it existed but my ukrainian-born coworker says it’s a big deal. i’ll take it!
Comment by cchrissyy — March 10, 2010 @ 6:05 pm
why do you suppose the day is no big deal in the US but seems to be in other countries?
it’s too bad that I hadn’t heard about it until I was 35!
… and part of a feminist blog and listening to the BBC.
Comment by mfranti — March 10, 2010 @ 6:09 pm
I’ve always thought that if there’s a need for a special day, whoever is the honoree isn’t getting enough attention on a daily basis. Meaning, if a day is needed to call attention to an issue, there needs to be a lot more focus than just one day. I think that applies to IWD.
Comment by Kimberly — March 10, 2010 @ 7:01 pm