March 8 is International Women’s Day (IWD) where women all over the world come together in celebration of the achievements and evolution women have made in strengthening their position socially, economically, culturally and in the political arena.
There have been claims that March 8, is to commemorate the 15,000 female garment workers that marched through New York City’s Lower East Side and rallied at Union Square demanding economic and political rights in 1908.
Why do we have International days? To unite people at a National and Global scale to educate, mobilize, to have an impact on law makers and to increase resources to help address the systemic issues and to pay tribute to the achievements that have made an impact on the cause.
IWD gives women a platform and an opportunity to access lived experiences, and stories that encourage, build up and inspire more women in their careers and lives. The #MeToo a social movement against sexual violence uses its platform to advocates for females who survived sexual violence to speak out about their experience.
Unfortunately, there are many parts of the world where there is little progress and little advocacy for women’s rights. These challenges highlight the oppression and injustice women face. The nature of the challenges for women are all different, and basic human rights is a high priority. Women and girls are still being treated worldwide with systematic violence, domestic abuse, sexual harassment or trafficking, financial abuse and deprivation. It was estimated that 87,000 women were intentionally killed in 2017. (www.unwomen.org).
We need to continue bringing attention to
• the injustice facing Indigenous Woman and Girls and advocate to bring their plight to the forefront
• to gender parity and women’s rights by exposing the extraordinary impacts women have made all around the world in their countries, communities and their workplaces.
As we celebrate IWD, lets remember the contribution and collaboration of our allies. Let’s not forget that gender equity is not only a female issue but a social and economic obligation. The best way to move forward is to include us all in our goals to achieve Gender Equality on a global scale.
The famous poem, Bread and Roses by James Oppenheim has been put to song by at least three composers and is a heartwarming slogan pairing bread and roses, appealing for both fair wages and dignified conditions. This year, due to the pandemic, celebrations will be held virtually. Please go to the PSAC website (psacunion.ca) or search International Women’s day for information.
