Today, on International Women’s Day, I’d like to wear a badge saying “feminist”. Because I am one. No apologies. No qualifications. No disclaimers. I just am. I’ve written about feminism before here and here. My thoughts are pretty well documented and they haven’t changed.
Yesterday, the Minister For the Status of Women, Kate Ellis, tweeted a link to this article by HR professional, Ellison Bloomfeld. I liked it so much, I asked if we could re-publish it here on Mamamia.
Ellison Bloomfeld writes:
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“A few years ago I was in a class at uni and the tutor asked the group, “who here would say, ‘I am a feminist'”, of 25 women, not one said yes. I was a bit disturbed by it at the time, I went out and bought Virginia Haussegger’s book ‘Wonder Woman: The Myth of Having It All’ and I got all revolutionary. And then I forgot about it for a while… but back to the point of this blog post.
On Tuesday 8 March it’s International Women’s Day, it’s the centenary of the event, but I don’t think that many people of my age group really get the day. In 1965 women weren’t allowed to drink in public bars in QLD by comparison women today have far better rights. But are we equal?
Women do 2/3 of the world’s work, produce 1/2 of the world’s food, yet earn just 10% of the world’s income and own 1% of the world’s property. In both developing and developed countries women suffer rape, sexual abuse and domestic violence. On the lesser end of the scale in the workforce we are paid less, battle the glass ceiling and many deal with the guilt of balancing work and family responsibilities.
I could rant about it, but this video on the International Women’s Day website sums it up pretty well;
[youtube b0TgGb8f-SE 640 390]
What struck me the most in this video is a statement from Eva Cox,
The message to young women is, you might think you’re equal – but mate you’re not, you earn less; you earn less per hour; you earn less over your lifetime; you do a heap of unpaid work because someone’s gotta do it
You don’t run things – you don’t decide things – so don’t have the illusion you’ve got choice.”
Do you consider yourself a feminist and what does the word mean to you?
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Top Comments
I LOLed when I read women do 2/3 of all the work in the world. Someone should tell the roofers, welders, electricians, bricklayers, sewage workers and garbage truck drivers about all the women doing their jobs and not getting paid for it. HAHA... what a joke.
Is feminism just another label/term that has been turned into something ugly to divide women & ensure we squabble more than take action (think of all those other divisive terms - stay at home mum, working mum, pro-choice, pro-life)... I consider myself a feminist because I believe in the equality of women, key word equality, I do not believe we are better than men, I believe we deserve equal standing & respect not only in our homes but in boardrooms, in villages, in factories & on the world stage. I believe we should have choices in life... just as I believe men should have choices in life. I think our real fight should be against disadvantage in all it's forms - economic, social & systemic for both the sexes!
In saying all that, I do agree that we should not kid ourselves, we are not equal, Maybe you are in your house and maybe you have had the opportunity to make your own choices about the life you lead, you created a fulfilling life out of the circumstances you landed or created your own better circumstances... but lets face it many women out there do not have the power to alter their trajectory, they can't make simple decisions that we consider basic human rights! Do we as fellow women owe these women something? Are we indebted to the women before us for our vote, our voice, our choices?
I have heard people lament that times were simpler when we didn't need 2 incomes to survive, that children were better off when families weren't so busy (underlying implication: when mum didn't work or care about her career) that there is nothing wrong with wanting to be "just a mum". My response to all that is that 1 - there is no such thing as "just a mum" & 2 yep sometimes having more choices can be hard! Especially of we continue to judge each others choices with bitterness. Women divided will always deliver oppression & social injustice. This womens' day I urge you to judge less, help more... be grateful for the time we live in, with all it's advantages & challenges & fight the good fight for equality for all!