GRL PWR

20:54

Wednesday 8 March marked the 2017 International Women's Day. As a History Student, and most importantly as a woman, the day was extraordinarily significant to me. I spent it with my fave human, Hilly, who also wrote an inspirational blogpost about the day.

The struggle of being a woman is real.

There is no denying.

Laura Bates wrote an amazing article in The Guardian to illustrate sexism in the workplace, but I think the basis of the article can be applied to most situations. She talks about "Being accused of menstruation when voicing a firm opinion" which is particularly resonant on social networking sites, where if a woman tweets something 'angry' or 'passionate' they are bombarded with accusations of it being 'that time of the month'. If a woman is passionate, she is overbearing, bossy and in over her head. A woman, apparently, cannot be taken as seriously as a man, in most situations, as they are not as level headed.

Similarly, in Bate's article, she talks about the burden of a baby and the topic of 'avoiding wandering hands'. This is a subject that most, if not all, women can understand. Men cat-calling, wolf whistling and 'wandering hands' have seemed to become a daily occurrence for me and my friends. I'm sure we are not the only ones. For example, on the busy road that me and Hilly live on, we get winks and men shouting out their window at us on a daily basis. One man drove past us, got our attention by shouting something and proceeded to film the whole thing on his iPhone. I dont know in what world that should be acceptable, but it certainly shouldn't be this one.

Now this post is starting to feel like a 'sob story' and I did not intend it to, but these issues are important.

I must admit, as a teenager I was reluctant to refer to myself as a feminist. Aren't they man hating? Dont they bra burn? Aren't they angry women?- these are the thoughts I would have when thinking and discussing being a feminist with my peers. I have come to learn, however, that these stereotypes are what pushes back the fight for equality. Because, feminists are not male-hating and scary. A feminist is someone who proactively challenges the current inequality in the world (not just 1st world countries but around the globe) and wants it to change. I learnt that the values my mum and dad taught me growing up, made me a feminist, without me even knowing.

On a lighter note, us women, we are strong and powerful and inspirational. Yes we are women, but that does not mean we are less-than. The International Women's Day Campaign, this year, was to #BeBoldForChange. Feminists (women and men) tweeted and posted positive messages and images, dedicating them to women who have literally changed the world by being bold. Malala, Rosa Parks, Mother Teresa, Eleanor Roosevelt, Betty Friedan, Marie Curie are just some of the names mentioned on the online platforms. But we should also celebrate our mothers, grandmothers and friends. The women around us who make us who we are. Together we are strong. Together we are powerful. And together we can achieve equality for BOTH sexes.

Final thought: Nigerian Novelist and Feminist -Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie - famously said that a feminist is: 'A person who believes in the social, political and economic equality of the sexes'. Bare that in mind. Both men and women can be feminist. It is not about female power, it is about gender equality. Don't let the word scare you.