Why every day should be International Women's Day.

I may be a day late, but really, what date this post is published is completely irrelevant. International Women’s Day is celebrated annually on the 8^th March and is a day that sees women and men alike raise their glasses to powerful women, be it Gloria Steinem, your own Mother, or the dinner lady, because let’s face it, every single woman is powerful and influential in one way or another.

I’m always conscious to write posts like this one, but then that insinuates I am embarrassed to be a woman with opinions and that in itself makes me angry. However, as the writer of a blog that attempts to position itself at the heart of sassy independence, I feel like it’s a matter that needs to be addressed. Note that I didn’t write female independence. Fluidity and humanity for the win.

The issue I have is that International Women’s Day is one singular day. One singular day that aims to bring to light contemporary issues such as domestic violence, sex trafficking and the gender pay gap, which, to a certain extent it  inevitably does. It is however, also a day that in turn leaves uneducated imbeciles to believe women are all ‘moan moan moan’, because where oh where is international men’s day? Please, behave. Oh, and International Men’s Day is November 19^th, FYI.

A certain part of me finds the annual day almost patronising. Why is it that the world relies on this day to bring to light female issues? Is rape not important on any other day of the year? Is it the only day of the year women can cheers to having a vagina and it be acceptable? I’m not convinced.

Yes, educating people on issues of equality is always going to be beneficial and having messages sent to you from friends saying ‘YOU GO GURL’ is always going to feel empowering, but let’s not restrict it to one day. These issues are ones that need to be acknowledged and actioned on a daily basis. Every woman should feel empowered from the moment she wakes up to the moment she goes to be bed. But the reality of the matter is, very few do and considerably more face daily struggles that revolve around gender inequality.

I for one am a working professional in a male dominated sector and my ideas are quite often not taken seriously or are disregarded. But if it was International Women’s Day, men would potentially think twice right? And there lies the exact problem. Female inequality isn’t taken seriously enough to be acknowledged by the majority fully on any other day than International Women’s Day.

It’s a great day, it makes women feel empowered, but I have a problem that this is restricted. You can have your International Women’s Day, because I’m all about the International Women’s Year.