100 years ago, an international day supporting women's rights was created. Now, 100 years later, many (and I don't use this term lightly) would try to suggest that the need for this day in the western world is no more. People would like to hope, and I do believe it steams from hope, that the equality we've all desired has been reached and that there is no longer a need for feminism. Perhaps, in the poorer areas of our countries or our World, women are being abused and unfairly treated but it certainly does not exist in our middle class. Here, I must break to scoff, and rant.
I do believe that the greatest majority of our work as feminists needs to be done in the developing world. And yet, I think it is important to remind ourselves of what we still have to fight for in our own worlds, in academia, in the super market, in the bus shelter, in the halls of our high schools: female solidarity. A distressing lack of this solidarity exists in front of my eyes. Women are competitive with each other, hateful, spiteful and condescending. We fight over jobs, over men, over women, over our own rights. This needs to stop. We have too much to fight for to be fighting amongst ourselves. Yes, we account for 53% percent of the population and own only 1% of the World's wealth, BUT, that should make us fight against this ramped inequality, not bicker with one another, sabotaging each other's success. Too often I have seen women become insecure in each other's presence. They puff out their chests like peacocks and become territorial and defensive instead of welcoming and kind. I am not innocent in this kind of display myself. What makes us behave this way to each other, and what has prompted it? As long as we fight amongst ourselves, and judge each other so harshly, we can not band together to create any change.
We need to recreate communities, celebrate each other's successes, encourage any life-decision should that be mothering, house keeping, banking, academics and so forth. If a woman chooses to work outside of the home, that is her choice.If she decides not to have children, that is her choice. If a woman decides to stay home and raise children, that is her choice as well. We need to CREATE opportunities instead of hindering them. As a young mother, I have witnessed my fair share of judgement. When I got pregnant many of my friends abandoned me. They did not know how to help or support me. Many older women suggested I quit university, in order to stay at home and be a "good mother". I was left alone, like I had the plague. I do not blame these women in particular, but I do blame the status of our society that has perpetuated this kind of behaviour. We need communities of women to be nurturing and supportive if we are to encourage change.
I wish there was such a strait forward answer to the rest of the injustice facing women. But, I can say that the collaboration of all women in a fight against these things: violence against women, the right to reproductive freedom, the right to equal wages, fair treatment and the list continues, is invaluable to our success in ending these injustices. So, for now, hug a woman! Hug as many as you can, as often as you can, everywhere you can! Through our friendship and solidarity we can make change!
