Days like today always come wrapped in a little controversy. You’ve probably already realized that today is March 8, International Working Women’s Day or International Women’s Day. This isn’t a random celebration; there’s something very big and important behind it: the fight for equal rights, for active and full participation in a society that still has many prejudices to eliminate.
Did you know that it was on March 8, 1910, that Spain established women’s right to attend university without having to be “supervised”? And that when International Working Women’s Day was proclaimed that year, women still didn’t have the right to vote? Among many other things, of course. Yes, this is definitely an important day, and it’s not something we should overlook. There are certain things that are worth remembering so we can feel proud and continue making progress.
Yes to International Women’s DayThat’s why, despite all the controversy, we say yes to International Women’s Day, as there’s no other way we could feel. And this March 8 will have as much meaning as we choose to give it. We know who we are and what we want. We know we’re neither above nor below anyone. And there’s still a lot of work to do.
Simone de Beauvoir said that one is not born a woman, but rather becomes one. And by that she meant that what a woman is and represents should not be determined by society, not even by biology. The complexity of being a woman is also the wonder of being able to create ourselves at every step along the way. And we do this through our interactions with others.
Today, March 8, it’s not about congratulating all women simply for being women. It’s about remembering how many parts of the world consider women’s lives worth less, how many cultures mean that being born a woman gives you no rights over your own life… It’s about breaking through our own limitations, fears, insecurities, clichés, stereotypes, silence, passivity, and traditions that want us to be proper and quiet.
Today, March 8, breathe, celebrate, become aware. And tomorrow, let’s be a little less what others expect and a little more ourselves.
We want to be brave, free, and creative!