My feminist blog started with
celebrating 100 years since women were given the vote, the credit for this goes
to the Suffragettes and it’s the Suffragettes, once again, that we have to
thank for starting the tradition of International Women’s Day, the first of
which was back in 1911. From this grew the idea of having a Women’s History
Week which grew into Women’s History Month which we are in the middle of
celebrating this month.
This year, 2018, the theme is #PressforProgress. The emphasis is on gender parity which is taking a long time coming! It’s a global women’s movement stretching across all continents, races, religions, sexual and gender identities, economic circumstances, classes and cultures. It’s not until all women are empowered that we can say true parity exists. True parity exists when women are no longer the economic underclass, have 50/50 access to education at all levels not just at the lower levels, and all sectors of employment especially those still reserved for men such as trade, that they are respected not abused (verbally, emotionally, financially, physically, psychologically) or subject to violence in the streets (#streetharasment), in the home, or in jobs (#MeToo, #Time’sUp) , that they are visible in public spaces whether it’s on the tennis courts/football pitches of local parks or in politics, science, music, art or academia.
International Women’s Day is about celebrating the success and achievements of women and to press for equality with persuasive action. I think a great example of this is Spain where women have gone on strike for the day, protesting against macho culture. Yes we need to sit down and talk but that in itself isn’t enough we need to act as the suffragette motto goes ‘Deeds not Words’! Women are constantly putting up with dreadful circumstances and treatment and little progress is being made. Progress is not something that has to be incremental, that’s called dragging your feet, it’s possible to change things dramatically overnight. That’s what we need to push for!
This year, 2018, the theme is #PressforProgress. The emphasis is on gender parity which is taking a long time coming! It’s a global women’s movement stretching across all continents, races, religions, sexual and gender identities, economic circumstances, classes and cultures. It’s not until all women are empowered that we can say true parity exists. True parity exists when women are no longer the economic underclass, have 50/50 access to education at all levels not just at the lower levels, and all sectors of employment especially those still reserved for men such as trade, that they are respected not abused (verbally, emotionally, financially, physically, psychologically) or subject to violence in the streets (#streetharasment), in the home, or in jobs (#MeToo, #Time’sUp) , that they are visible in public spaces whether it’s on the tennis courts/football pitches of local parks or in politics, science, music, art or academia.
International Women’s Day is about celebrating the success and achievements of women and to press for equality with persuasive action. I think a great example of this is Spain where women have gone on strike for the day, protesting against macho culture. Yes we need to sit down and talk but that in itself isn’t enough we need to act as the suffragette motto goes ‘Deeds not Words’! Women are constantly putting up with dreadful circumstances and treatment and little progress is being made. Progress is not something that has to be incremental, that’s called dragging your feet, it’s possible to change things dramatically overnight. That’s what we need to push for!
Women must have 50/50 representation
in all areas of life and receive equal pay in all careers, including:
·
In parliament
·
In all sports, as well as 50% media coverage of
women engaging competitively in these sports, sports commentators
·
In the board room
·
In academia, as researchers, professors, contributors
for journals, speakers at conferences, workshops, seminar groups
·
In music as composers, conductors, soloists
·
In art, as exhibitors in art galleries, as
curators of art galleries
·
In science and technology
My #PressforProgress is to bring to light the visibility of women (which includes celebrating women’s achievements) challenging stereotypes as well as bias and, in particular, to press for gender parity. It’s time!
My #PressforProgress is to bring to light the visibility of women (which includes celebrating women’s achievements) challenging stereotypes as well as bias and, in particular, to press for gender parity. It’s time!
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