Yes, you read correctly, this is in fact a lesser-spotted post about International Women's Day (and feminism in general) from a man. A straight, white, highly privileged man, no less.
*Groans from all ends of the political spectrum*
Why, I hear you ask, has said man chosen to write about this? Surely, you might think, this is not my argument to make, nor my issue to raise. After all, none of the issues I'm about to discuss have ever affected me, and chances are they never will. We men have our own issues as a sex, of course - toxic masculinity, 'lad' culture, mental health, and so on - which are often pitted against women's issues as if one is more important than the other.
The argument usually goes something like this:
Woman: I think that the gender pay gap/period poverty/underrepresentation/violence against women is an issue, because x (insert argument here)
Man: What about men's mental health? (insert suicide rate statistics here)
This argument is, of course, completely nonsensical - all these issues are extremely important, require attention and, more importantly, action. It is useless and counterproductive to debate about who's issues are most important, and usually results in both sides being undermined and no progress being made.
As men, at least those of us who believe in feminism (by this I mean EQUALITY, not the male-hating victim bullshit spouted by the right), it is our duty to support issues that do not affect us. Just as I would expect every female feminist to support issues like those above which affect men, we must be expected to speak out on issues that affect women too.
So, here I am, writing about International Women's Day, in the midst of a pandemic which has disproportionately affected women, but when only 28% of Brits think gender inequality is a serious inequality compared with others (YouGov). I have heard too many times why people think this - 'the gender pay gap doesn't exist', or 'women have equal rights now, don't they?', or even 'why is there no international men's day?'. I am sick to death of it.
Yes, by law women and men must be paid the same for the same job. Yes, by law women and men must be treated equally in all areas of society. But, THAT DOES NOT MEAN IT ACTUALLY HAPPENS. Racism and racist discrimination is illegal - but it happens all the time. It's no different for sexism and misogyny.
Working women earn 81p for every pound a man earns, largely because men still occupy the highest-paid jobs in society - 76% of FTSE 100 directors, 71% of MPs, and 75% of judges, for example. At the current rate it will be 70 years before this gap eventually closes. This is nothing to do with choice - it's about gender norms, the expectations that society has of men and women, which dictates this gap.
For example, when a heterosexual couple has a child, it is usually the woman who sacrifices her career to look after them, because that is what society expects of her (however could her husband be expected throw away his hard-earned job for a child when that's his wife's job?). Or at home, where women still do the majority of the (unpaid) domestic work, even those who have full time jobs, because that is what society expects of her. Or when a promotion becomes available at work, women are less likely to apply for it even when they are qualified, because society has told them their whole lives that a man will always be more competent. It is not about choice.
This is a very small insight into just some of the reasons why International Women's Day is so important - there are so many more reasons, of course, which are omitted for length purposes (domestic and other violence against women, period poverty etc.), but I strongly recommend you read about if you haven't already.
International Women's Day is not just about women in the relatively egalitarian West, though. In many places, particularly some parts of the Middle East and Africa, women are still subjected to legal restrictions on their rights, often becoming property when married, and in some cases are exposed to extremely harmful practices like FGM. It is about them too.
It is also about LGB women, and about trans women, who are not only some of the most discriminated against people in society, but suffer some of the highest rates of violence and hate crimes.
International Women's Day is about the diverse experiences of all women, everywhere. It is about empowering women, celebrating the achievements of women which are so often banished to the footnotes of history, and fighting for equality.
If you're still struggling to understand the significance of today, I will always maintain that the best thing to do, as a man, is to talk to your female friends, and more importantly - LISTEN to them. You will be surprised at the everyday concerns women have that we men completely overlook. I cannot speak for women, but I know, for example, that every woman I have asked has been catcalled or sexually harassed in some way in their lifetime - most have been subjected to it in the last month. I, on the other hand, have never been catcalled in my life. I don't leave the house every day worried that someone might try and assault me, and I have never asked someone to watch my drink for fear it might get spiked.
If you think there is true gender equality in the UK, or in the world, and that International Women's Day is pointless or unnecessary or sexist, you are deluded. We have not fixed the problem of gender inequality, and it is worrying that so few, especially those at the top, still see it as a major issue. Hopefully this day will be a reminder - the battle is not yet over. We are not free until we are all free.
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