International Women’s Day – Why It Matters

By Pam Hadder

What were you doing on March 8?  March 8 was International Women’s Day (IWD) in Canada and around the world, and it is typically marked by events celebrating the achievements of women.  It also is a critical time to address global structures that continue to disenfranchise and disempower women, while seeking ways to narrow gender equity gaps.  In many countries including China, Nepal, Viet Nam and Uganda, Women’s Day is a national holiday, but this is not the case in Canada.  Many countries also acknowledge International Women’s Week (IWW), in an effort to both be inclusive and to extend the messaging and interaction time for women’s issues and celebrations.
  

So, why is IWD/IWW so important, and how did it originate?  As a result of growing social consciousness movements, and the awareness of female oppression, 1975 was declared the International Women’s Year by the United Nations.  Why March 8?   March 8 coincides with the famous 1917 “bread and peace” protest by Russian women which deposed its oppressive monarchical structure and marked a time of great societal change.  Today we are not engaged in a World War like the Russian women were, but violence, murder and starvation are very real issues on a global scale, and the appalling truth is that one in four women and girls will be the victims of sexualized violence in their lifetime, and that many women and children around the world live in poverty and without political agency to escape their plight.  Within global structures of masculinized and militarized power, women are denied equal participation, a voice, and even life itself.

Forbes recently released its updated list of global billionaires – there are just 1,426 people that monopolize world fortunes – less than 2,000 out of billions of human beings on the Earth. The majority of these uber-wealthy types are males, with Americans leading the way, despite their vocal complaints over depressed economic conditions in their nation.  The gap between the haves and have-nots is widening within tumultuous, uncertain times – somehow, a select few manage to hoard massive stockpiles of wealth while others starve.

Often nations like Canada look to “others” or “Third World” countries, and speak of their need for aid – we are told how lucky we are to live in our great nation, and the “other” is deserving of our charity; our pity.  Canadians like to distance themselves from poverty, violence and inequity – as if it is an isolated issue in a far off land. We like to see the Third World other as less educated, less technically adept and less empowered.  But did you know that India’s literacy rate is far higher than our own and that Afghanistan has more women in political leadership roles than Canada, Britain or the USA? And did you know that Canada is on World Vision’s giving list – for meals and school supplies for needy kids, but that only 1% of the funds they raise actually go to Canadian kids?

Denying gender-based inequity is almost criminal in its ignorance, but those who speak out are often labeled as frustrated radicals or left wing malcontents.  The uncomfortable truth is that women and children are much more likely to live in need, and are more likely to experience physical violence in Canada and around the world.  Indigenous women face further barriers and they suffer increased levels of poverty and violence, exacerbated by endemic racism in our country.
  

So does International Women’s Day matter?  Hell yes!  What can you do?  Read, stay informed, share your findings and make choices in work and in your personal dealings that reinforce fairness regardless of race, gender or sexual orientation. I leave you with the profoundly powerful words of Winnipeg Indigenous mother, poet, activist and humanitarian, Althea Guiboche.  Althea recently began making bannock to feed to hungry and homeless people in Winnipeg; we hope you will visit her Facebook page, “Got Bannock?” and consider how you might be part of the solution:

AGIMAAWAG  AKINA – Everyone Counts
By Althea Guiboche

I feed those people
who are wandering around
the cold, the hungry
the homeless sitting on the ground
the down on their luck
the ones asking for a buck
the ones who need someone
to show them some love
to show that they care
These are someone’s loved ones too
everyone has a story
everyone has a past
whether good or bad
I don’t look at that
we are all connected
we all belong
agimaawag akina
Everyone counts.