#InternationalWomensDay - 2013 - End Violence Against Women

Contributor: Ansley Ansley



Friday, March 8th is International Women's Day. This holiday originated in 1909 and led to many key events in our world's history; in 1965 the then-USSR adopted March 8th as an official non-working holiday. It gained momentum in the West around 1977.

How familiar are you when it comes to this holiday? For instance, did you know the inception of this holiday has a role in the abdication of Tsar Nicholas II of the ill-fated Romanov dynasty? Or perhaps you're aware the U.N. issues official themes for each year?



In 1996, the official theme was: "Celebrating the Past, Planning the Future and in 1999 the focus was ending violence against women; which is also the theme for this year. In 2017, the theme will focus on a global womens strike. Bad news for the men in our lives, 2017 will also feature a sex strike.

This holiday serves to remind us that women are still not on equal footing with men in the work place and various other arenas in life but it's a fight we are not going to abandon any time soon.

Is there a woman in your life (perhaps yourself) who consistently challenges the patriarchy to gain even-ground for women in society?

Are you doing anything to promote International Womens Day, whether it's at work or school or through a pro-feminist organization? If so, share the details!

Bonus Question: Do you think men and women will ever have the exact same rights and benefits, or will there always be an air of "equal, but different"? If you believe the latter, is it akin to settling and giving up or do you think that men and women are different enough to receive different rights and privileges?

03/04/2013
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Contributor: Lildrummrgurl7 Lildrummrgurl7
Ohhhh I love International Women's Day. I'm a Women's Studies major and a part of Vox: Voices for Planned Parenthood up on campus. Every year my university has a ton of events. We're doing a lot for the day. I am tabling in our student union for the day.

PLUS! March 8th is my birthday I always say I was just destined to become a WSt major and a feminist.

As far as the bonus question, that's a tough one. It would be ideal for EVERYONE, not just men and women, to have the exact same rights and benefits. Unfortunately, I don't see that happening any time soon with contemporary society. All we can do is be proud of how far we've come and continue to push forward for equality for all human beings.
03/04/2013
Contributor: Ansley Ansley
Quote:
Originally posted by Lildrummrgurl7
Ohhhh I love International Women's Day. I'm a Women's Studies major and a part of Vox: Voices for Planned Parenthood up on campus. Every year my university has a ton of events. We're doing a lot for the day. I am tabling in our ... more
Now if only you had a handful of EF flyers to tuck into pamphlets...

That's fantastic (your major)! Are you holding any self-defense seminars and those kinds or things or is it more of a "this is where you can find the information" kind of thing?
03/05/2013
Contributor: Lildrummrgurl7 Lildrummrgurl7
Quote:
Originally posted by Ansley
Now if only you had a handful of EF flyers to tuck into pamphlets...

That's fantastic (your major)! Are you holding any self-defense seminars and those kinds or things or is it more of a "this is where you can find the ... more
This week it's more of an information thing. We are planing on making a "sexual health" gift basket to raffle off here soon and I am planning on tucking some of my EF affiliate flyers into it

We are holding "Safety Week" after spring break and I'm doing a presentation on "sexual health" day. There's also a whole day or two on self defense and domestic violence prevention.
03/05/2013
Contributor: tattedsexy71 tattedsexy71
Quote:
Originally posted by Ansley



Friday, March 8th is International Women's Day. This holiday originated in 1909 and led to many key events in our world's history; in 1965 the then-USSR adopted March 8th as an official non-working holiday. It gained momentum in ... more
my daughters best friend tandi and her fiance stephanie are fixing to have their first baby and they are so discriminated against being a lesbian couple, but they are the strongest people i know...and yes...one day i believe we will be treated equal
03/06/2013
Contributor: edeneve edeneve
we are different but not in a way that women are not allowed the same rights and privileges as men
03/06/2013
Contributor: fizzygato fizzygato
Wow... I had no idea the holiday existed until I read this post.

For as long as there are categories of "men" and "women," both the fact that only those categories are addressed and the fact that gender be categorized at all (although I think the latter takes quite a bit of privilege to say), there will always be inequalities. However, I think it is debatable/uncertain whether these inequalities will necessarily be in the form of rights, with "rights" being a debatable term in general. Possibly privileges, as well.

I think it in itself is "separate but 'equal.'" Equal being debatable, as I don't think there is equality at the moment, but I'm imagining it becoming "equal" but with just "separate" categories in some imagined world
03/06/2013
Contributor: Ansley Ansley
Quote:
Originally posted by Lildrummrgurl7
This week it's more of an information thing. We are planing on making a "sexual health" gift basket to raffle off here soon and I am planning on tucking some of my EF affiliate flyers into it

We are holding "Safety ... more
That's fantastic they would go to such lengths to inform and educate the students. What's the demographic as far as attendance? Do the guys show up as well?
03/06/2013
Contributor: Do emu Do emu
Quote:
Originally posted by Lildrummrgurl7
This week it's more of an information thing. We are planing on making a "sexual health" gift basket to raffle off here soon and I am planning on tucking some of my EF affiliate flyers into it

We are holding "Safety ... more
That's so awesome! I remember a lot of really nifty events for IWD during my time at uni. Sadly now that I'm out, I don't really see a lot of celebration for it, except on Eden!
03/06/2013
Contributor: Ansley Ansley
Quote:
Originally posted by tattedsexy71
my daughters best friend tandi and her fiance stephanie are fixing to have their first baby and they are so discriminated against being a lesbian couple, but they are the strongest people i know...and yes...one day i believe we will be treated equal
That's an interesting point. I think when it comes to procreation people have some pretty hard and fast view points on it. I have a very, deeply personal view about pregnancy and the efforts of those who can't naturally bear children and I'm sure that I'm not the only one. It's probably a logical extension for a lot of people who choose to continue to deny rights to people just because they don't understand. I exercise my rights by choosing to not engage in discussions where fertility treatments are in question and I choose to not utilize those efforts in the event I wanted a child and could not have one.

Unfortunately, this couple probably has it even harder due to just being in Texas. That can't be easy by any means. I wish them the best of luck and congrats on their new addition!
03/06/2013
Contributor: Ansley Ansley
Quote:
Originally posted by fizzygato
Wow... I had no idea the holiday existed until I read this post.

For as long as there are categories of "men" and "women," both the fact that only those categories are addressed and the fact that gender be categorized at ... more
I think equality is debatable in general because not everyone has the same needs and not everyone realizes what they do need. (I of course blame politicians for skewing the issues...) I'm just not sure that "equal" means "same", nor that it should be interchangeable.
03/06/2013
Contributor: Angeleyes7 Angeleyes7
Quote:
Originally posted by Ansley



Friday, March 8th is International Women's Day. This holiday originated in 1909 and led to many key events in our world's history; in 1965 the then-USSR adopted March 8th as an official non-working holiday. It gained momentum in ... more
For International Womens day I am going with my mother in law and my sister in law and we are having a girls day with our two daughters I really love International Women's Day. I think the best bet would be for EVERYONE to have the same rights, we are all human, no one should be put upon a pedestal or belittled. I really don't see that happening anytime soon though. So many male-chauvinist men out there, hell even some women...LOL! It would be nice if we could all have equal rights!
03/06/2013
Contributor: raffi raffi
Quote:
Originally posted by Ansley



Friday, March 8th is International Women's Day. This holiday originated in 1909 and led to many key events in our world's history; in 1965 the then-USSR adopted March 8th as an official non-working holiday. It gained momentum in ... more
i think it'll always be equal but different ... and i'm ok with that
03/06/2013
Contributor: karenm karenm
I'm surprised I never really heard of the holiday until recently because I'm all for it. My boyfriend and I are definitely feminists.

If anyone's interested in it, Tiger Beatdown is an interesting blog that addresses a lot of feminist issues.
03/06/2013
Contributor: lildrummergrl693 lildrummergrl693
For the bonus question: My hope is that one day we won't be looking at it through the lens of "are men and women equal" but through the lens of "do all people, regardless of gender have equal access to the services and rights they are entitled to." I think men and women overall have different needs, but also that many men have different needs than that of other men, as do women, as do trans* and genderqueer folk, as do people of any number of other genders. Many of these people have the right to access things that others (even other within the as gender as them) may not need, such as birth control.
03/06/2013
Contributor: TakeHimAway TakeHimAway
Quote:
Originally posted by Ansley



Friday, March 8th is International Women's Day. This holiday originated in 1909 and led to many key events in our world's history; in 1965 the then-USSR adopted March 8th as an official non-working holiday. It gained momentum in ... more
I have never even hard of this holiday. No, I don't think it will ever be the same.
03/06/2013
Contributor: Lynx Lynx
I've never even heard of this. :O

I'm not sure about it becoming equal. Who really knows anymore?
03/06/2013
Contributor: candykiss34 candykiss34
I'm not very familiar with International Women's Day or its history, but I think it's an awesome holiday to celebrate! Regarding equality, I think it might always be a matter of "equal, but different" because men and women in general have different needs, and each individual person has unique needs. I agree with Stormy above, in that I don't think that "equal" has to necessarily mean "same."
03/06/2013
Contributor: Lildrummrgurl7 Lildrummrgurl7
For IWD, Planned Parenthood is organizing a Tweetathon to John Kerry. If you have a Twitter, feel free to join in!

If you have a Twitter account, you can tweet John Kerry yourself! Sample messages include:
• My #SecState @JohnKerry supports women and girls because studies show when you educate a girl, you educate a community. #IWD2013
• My #SecState @JohnKerry supports women and girls because investing in women is smart #economics. #IWD2013
• My #SecState @JohnKerry supports women and girls because women’s rights are human rights. #IWD2013 #equality
• My #SecState @JohnKerry supports women and young people because the status quo is never good enough. #IWD2013
03/06/2013
Contributor: unsayable unsayable
Quote:
Originally posted by Ansley



Friday, March 8th is International Women's Day. This holiday originated in 1909 and led to many key events in our world's history; in 1965 the then-USSR adopted March 8th as an official non-working holiday. It gained momentum in ... more
My mom has always been an active member in women's rights group. She took my on my first violence against women protest when I was five. She worked for eighteen years empowering women through art while preserving the art traditions of the people of Northern New Mexico. She was on the cover of a women's business magazine for raising up the non-profit fiber arts center she directed from one room in a run down building to a whole building with grants from the state and federal government agencies. She is a badass.

I will most certainly be tweeting and facebooking about national women's day. I live in a place where I am kind of cut off from the rest of everyone but the internet provides a way to reach so many people.

I will always hope that men and women will some day have equal rights. However, due to our government (which I care for neither side) we will always be attacked and treated differently. In order for things to change we all (both women and men) must exercise our constitutional right to remove the government we see unfit and begin one that works for everyone.
03/06/2013
Contributor: Bonniebabd Bonniebabd
Quote:
Originally posted by Ansley



Friday, March 8th is International Women's Day. This holiday originated in 1909 and led to many key events in our world's history; in 1965 the then-USSR adopted March 8th as an official non-working holiday. It gained momentum in ... more
I think there will always be an air of "equal, but different"; Hoping we never settle and keep fighting until we are treated the same. I do think though that men and women are different enough but equal under all things.????????

If
03/06/2013
Contributor: geliebt geliebt
I never knew there was such a holiday.. Interesting!
I'm not doing anything for womens day, though, not having known about it until now :O Maybe I should!
03/06/2013
Contributor: surfer surfer
Quote:
Originally posted by Ansley



Friday, March 8th is International Women's Day. This holiday originated in 1909 and led to many key events in our world's history; in 1965 the then-USSR adopted March 8th as an official non-working holiday. It gained momentum in ... more
I did not know about International Women's Day, but it certainly is one that I want to celebrate and support!
03/06/2013
Contributor: Jo22 Jo22
I am actually unfamiliar with the holiday, but I've been lucky to always feel equal-or at least have achieved equality in my life-I grew up working in my dad's garage and continued becoming top in the auto body field and have gained a lot of respect from men and women alike. My mom is amazing, but my gramma was the best-she was a trailblazer in her day-becoming the 1st female firefighter in our community, a respected ER nurse & EMT, she was a pilot and loved her cars. I grew up around strong women and very cool open minded men. I am aware of the lack of equality in society and I hope the fight continues with results.
03/06/2013
Contributor: Suzie Cue Suzie Cue
Quote:
Originally posted by Ansley



Friday, March 8th is International Women's Day. This holiday originated in 1909 and led to many key events in our world's history; in 1965 the then-USSR adopted March 8th as an official non-working holiday. It gained momentum in ... more
I've never even heard of International Women's Day! I've learned something today! Aside from the obvious, I am proud to be a woman
03/06/2013
Contributor: LilithStorm LilithStorm
I've heard of Women's Day.
For the bonus question, in my mind, I don't think men and women will every be completely equal.
03/06/2013
Contributor: SoSexxxay SoSexxxay
Sadly, I didn't really know anything about this holiday
I have a tab open to research though! I want to learn more!

I don't think men and women will ever be equal, at least not in the foreseeable future. I always have this thought in the back of my mind that things are going to swing the opposite way, which is no good either. How will we ever be equal? I just don't see a scenario in which that can or will happen :\
03/07/2013
Contributor: FlaBeachLover FlaBeachLover
Honestly I had no idea that there was specifically a holiday for that. I guess that says how much in the dark I am. sorry.
03/07/2013
Contributor: Silverdrop Silverdrop
I notice things so much more now. Like how often you read a book or view a movie and there are two or three female characters - a love interest, perhaps the protagonist's mother or sister - and that's it. The idea that rape education mostly consists of teaching young women how to avoid being victims rather than teaching young men not to rape. The world defaults to white male in a way I somehow never noticed during my first few decades of life.
03/07/2013
Contributor: captainsgirl captainsgirl
Quote:
Originally posted by Ansley



Friday, March 8th is International Women's Day. This holiday originated in 1909 and led to many key events in our world's history; in 1965 the then-USSR adopted March 8th as an official non-working holiday. It gained momentum in ... more
i think one day men and women will be equal! i dont personally fight for womens rights but my sister is a big activist.
03/07/2013