International Women’s Day is right around the corner.
The event, a “global day celebrating the economic, political and social achievements of women past, present and future,” is to be celebrated Thursday, March 8.
Although some of us in the United States might mistakenly believe that the fight for women’s rights ended with the passage of women’s suffrage or Roe v. Wade, the fact remains that women worldwide — more than half of the world’s citizens — have second-class status.
Whether it is through blatantly discriminatory public policies or through subtler, more widely accepted patriarchal norms, women are still living in a man’s world.
Worldwide, the sex trade imprisons females from every age bracket. In many countries, access to education is limited to non-existent for girls.
In the U.S., societal norms and barriers often prevent women from achieving the highest levels of corporate, religious and political leadership, leaving decisions that directly affect them, such as the accessibility of birth control and abortion rights, in the hands of men.
This is why I can’t fathom why any woman would say that she’s not a feminist.
Perhaps it’s because in the United States, the word “feminist” conjures up imagery of bra-burning, body hair, gruff demeanor and angry rhetoric that is threatening and unappealing to so many.
Still, simply fearing being stereotyped as something other than the delicate, perfectly pretty and submissive feminine ideal seems like shoddy reasoning for not being an active participant in the natural and rightful fight for being regarded and treated as an equal sex.
To achieve this end goal, I believe two approaches are necessary.
First, men must take responsibility as equal partners in the struggle against the structural inequalities that have hindered the advancement of womanhood for so long.
Just as being Caucasian comes with a certain a set of innate, unspoken white privileges, being male in today’s world endows the individual with advantages that women are not able to enjoy.
Men should keep in mind these advantages and question them.
In addition, the labeling of women as overly sensitive, flighty and unsuited for leadership must end.
Yes, today we have strong leaders such as Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to look up to and admire.
However, media and everyday discourse is rife with reaffirmations of the idea that women are weak, controlled by illogical emotions and in need of protection and masculine care and attention.
Undoubtedly, men primarily propagate these notions.
These notions must cease and be replaced by a dialogue in which men and women are similarly respected and regarded as equals in humanity.
Secondly, women must alter the way they view themselves and their gender as a whole, while actively continuing the fight for equality.
To accept the current state of affairs is to submit to being a member of the patriarchy.
Too often we define ourselves by the standards that are set out for us: the standard of thinness and delicacy, the standard of submissiveness, the standard of flawlessness.
Why not define us by our brains? Our love? Our strength?
Women must, first and foremost, view themselves as strong and capable. Child-rearing and traditionally feminine occupations are noble pursuits, but the realms of science and politics need us too.
This March 8, no matter what your gender identity may be, take the time to think about what you can do to help create a society in which all people, women especially, can live lives uninhibited by social constraints in true freedom and equality.
Not just for a single day, but for every day to come.
— kabeasle@indiana.edu
