198 - IWD ?

International women's day is upon us. For short, I'll use the official acronym : IWD. 

Its history is long and complicated as to why March 8 was chosen, possibly the fact that 1914 edition, as it was a Sunday, and ever since, became the normal date. Before that, the earliest edition in 1909 was on February 28th. 

Either way, if you want to know more about it, I'm not going to copy-paste and steal other people's material. Read wiki  or the official website.


I want to discuss a few things : 
I've been passionate about feminism in general, but thus far have done very little. I have plans for later this year... I'll give you more details when it happens, but for the moment the only thing I can mention is : I have an idea to become more active.

I've seen posters Happy IWD, or celebrate IWD. It's not an actual celebration in the sense of a party.  
Also, IWD isn't some commercial romantic day like Valentine's. 

IWD is a day that society settled on to support women's rights - to vote, to have equal pay, rights for their bodies... 

I think that it'd be best not to buy flowers for your wife and say happy women's day and to expect ''her'' to cook, wash dishes, clean your home, and be there to satisfy your needs.
No, I think it'd be far more effective to participate in the feminist movement. 

So, instead of buying fading flowers, give a donation to any of women activist groups (there are MANY to chose from), or a women's shelter. Those places really need all the funds they can get ; they help women in their battles in this patriarcal world. 



Because I put my money where my mouth is, here's the receipt I made for a french feminist group that I've been following for quite some time, and that I admire and agree with their actions and philosophy : Osez le féminisme. 








Make active contributions and be part of the solution : remember that this day is only one day but that every day should be IWD ; every day, be kinder to your wife or girlfriend, don't be a misogynist, don't steal women's rights and lights, but help empower those who need, and generally be a decent person.

Today, help in the house, clean it up, wash those dishes and so on. Be active in helping, not because a woman cannot do those, but because she's not your slave. Because you need to share the responsibilities and activities the home you share, normally, 50-50. 

Support women's rights for equality in all matters - remember, feminism isn't about stealing power and options from one gender to give the other, but to have equality in all things. 

Feminism is about transferring all those things that patriarchy and misogyny stole from women throughout history, back from men to their rightful owners : the women descendants of all those who came before. 

We are all, first and foremost, human beings, before our gender. So, in my opinion, the end goal is to get rid of IWD and make feminism an integral part of humanism, alongside LGBTQ & human rights movements, working every day toward an every day equality in all matters. 

Feminism shouldn't be about fighting one another, but working together, on equal grounds, to reduce all the injustices of this world and to eradicate barbaric violent practices toward women.

There are far too many small and big things that need to change. Far too many to list in this post-  but, expect more, and whilst you wait, go and educate yourselves about the topic.