Girling

Happy International Women’s Day, everybody!

This is a weird day, I think. While I do see value in a global day recognizing the importance of gender equity and the work that still needs to be done to achieve it, I also feel like International Women’s Day (and Women’s History Month in general, which is in March in the US) has lost its way a bit.

For example, I love the idea of promoting and supporting women-owned businesses; but, it feels a little performative to read a listicle of Things to Get the Strong Women in Your Life This Women’s Day. The commodification of the day makes me concerned that we’ll lose sight of the true meaning of International Women’s Day. 

I also take issue with some of the large-scale Women’s Day events that take place around this time of year. While I love the idea of celebrating our accomplishments and coming together to learn from one another, these events often come with steep price tags. Making events that are meant to promote gender equity financially unattainable for all but the most privileged among us is antithetical to the spirit of International Women’s Day. 

What gives?

Obviously, I love women. I believe it is my mission to use my life to promote gender equity in any way I can. Sometimes, that is supporting women-owned businesses or attending fancy conferences. But, as I often preach on this blog, there is no correct way to support women. And if there was, it certainly would not come with a price tag.

The message that celebrating International Women’s Day requires an extravagant display of feminism strips the holiday of its power and reduces it to a Hallmark Holiday celebrating little more than performative activism. It gives people an excuse to say “happy Women’s Day!” and buy a “Notorious RBG” mug and then pay women eighty cents to the dollar. 

A true celebration of women’s rights would be available to all people.

My point is that gender equity, feminism, and social justice do not exclusively exist on one day or one month of the year. Creating a social atmosphere where it feels like one has to spend money to celebrate International Women’s Day is exclusionary and performative because a true celebration of women’s rights would be available to all people. 

Writing this blog post is the most that I am doing on this International Women’s Day. I do not own a “Notorious RBG” mug. Hell, I don’t own anything with a feminist slogan on it. I have never attended a week-long women’s conference. I am no less of a feminist or gender equity advocate because of it. Neither are you.

Happy International Women’s Day. I hope the celebration of women empowers you, regardless of your gender. I encourage you to empower others in whatever way speaks to you. Whether that be through texting the women in your life, reading a think-piece about women’s rights, attending a women’s day event, or, yes, even buying that “Notorious RBG” mug. 

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