Chloe Alverson ‘17 & Brooke Lynn Tremblay ‘17: Today, the 8th of March, is International Women’s Day. Dedicated to supporting the empowerment, equality, and respect of women, the day was established in the year of 1975 by the United Nations. What started as a day for campaigning equal pay and voting rights, has grown into a day devoted to inspiring women around the world, celebrating their achievements.
Why should you celebrate International Women’s Day?
“I think days like this are an opportunity to draw attention to a cause, and the desire women have in the world to be treated equally,” Mrs. Kelley Durand said. “The attention and activism can’t just be on that one day. To me, ideally, International Women’s Day is about women, but more than just women can be included.”
Often times people hear the word feminism and immediately ensue a negative attitude. Phrases like, “Feminists hate men” or “I am a man, I can’t be a feminist,” are uttered by people who don’t understand what feminism really is. Feminism is the theory of the political, economic, and social equality of the sexes (Merriam Webster Dictionary ). This movement is about equality, that people should be treated as equals because that is what this country stands for, something that sets us apart from many nations around the world.
“Throughout history, women have been held back by male dominance and brute strength,” Mr. Scott Lamb said. “However, the age of women’s equality has happened. Women are no longer constrained to the traditional roles and can achieve their happiness, rather than society’s expectations. Women back in the day had to do what they were told. Today, they can do what they want to do. Globally, women are not equal to men. In many parts of the world, women do not have the voice that American women do.”
As a world leader, the citizens of the United States must understand that there are countries watching and modeling after us. Currently, only 24 women hold CEO positions of Fortune 500 companies- a number that has grown from 0% in 1995 to 5.2% as of 2014, according to Pew Social Trends. Since women’s suffrage in the early 1900s, acts such as the Family and Medical Leave Act (1993), Fair Labor Standards Act (1938), Whistleblower Protection Act (1989), and the Comprehensive Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (1985) have aimed to protect our women. (Omega HR Solutions) We need to be the force that drives women’s equality. We have a voice, it’s time that we unite and use it.
“My cousin [Heather Anger] right now has filed a complaint with the EEOC, to sue GM (General Motors) as a clay modeler for pay discrimination,” Ms. Kristin Famiano said. (You can check this article out: Detroit Free Press)
It’s time to raise awareness for issues that pertain to and affect women around the world. Activism today will affect our future tomorrow. You should be celebrating International Women’s Day because women deserve to be empowered, inspired, loved, and celebrated.