In the past I’ve been to various wonderful and inspiring International Women’s Day (IWD) events. I’m still truly thankful to the hosts, speakers and support staff for the opportunities. In more recent years these invites have mostly been to a posh do and meal, generated to showcase “successful” women who are recognisably so. Mostly business women and the like, those who are willing to stand up to show to others how. This year for personal reasons, I’ve just NOT gone to anything or going to any event to celebrate, but I from home sincerely wish all who did go and are going to go “Networking” etc… a rewarding and thoughtful time.
For all who don’t go or can’t, I equally wish today is a good one, a healthy, peaceful, perhaps joyful and contemplative one. For on this annual official IWDay: 8th March I’m thinking about all those unequally homebound persons, as ‘Individually, we’re all responsible for our own thoughts and actions – all day, every day’. Hence my day today, will be thinking about those individuals who are so very unequal to myself, especially women. For I recognise that I am a relatively privileged person, just by living here in Britain with many human rights recognised. The thing is, IWD isn’t exclusive to the UK, it’s a global day of celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women wherever they are and as it’s not country, group or organization specific and is basically for all. Today I’m also contemplating what is “successful”. Isn’t it just as successful to be able to stay at home with a newly born child be you mother or father or both for a while? Supported by society? As this years campaign theme is #EachforEqual as ‘An equal world is an enabled world.’ this seems to be on my mind. I do know that plenty of woman are especially not enabled to go into the jobs men think of as unsuitable. I even know that for some women they’re not even allowed out of the sight of others and have to stay home. Anyways, I’ve decided to ponder on all of that and instead of going out, I’m staying put.
Last year’s campaign theme was #BalanceforBetter calling for a more gender-balanced world. Therefore, looking at both themes together and combining the two, I’m seeing how it’s still quite apparent how unequal and unbalanced the human world is. Yet, I will acknowledge that some things are getting better statistically and yes that for some individuals it’s worse. I’m thankful there are “successful” women recognised, who take up the challenges and fight against the many, many, many obstacles put before them. Equally I’m thankful for those of any gender who are just as “successful” in their own lives, being stay at homemakers and unpaid carers for their loved ones… who as yet go so often unrecognised, unsupported and taken for granted.
Also in balance of #EachforEqual I can see how ‘Collectively, each one of us can help create a gender equal world‘ and shall we Vive la difference? as ‘It is time that we all see gender as a spectrum instead of two sets of opposing ideals. We should stop defining each other by what we are not, and start defining ourselves by who we are.’ ~ Emma Watson. I for one will also celebrate on Intersex Awareness Day 26th October and International Men’s Day 19th November too in all equality. Therefore, I recommend these dates to your calendar, diary or mobile phone to be meaningful and creative.
Over Soil 