International Women's Day 2016

[invisible]

I'm sharing this art I saw by Kelly Bastow in recognition and respect of International Women's Day. Bastow is called moosekleenex on tumblr and she's such a cool artist.

Good On You Ladies, Women, Girls, and Womyn of all kinds... please keep on being You.

 

[Gaze]

 

[Gaze]

 

[JJJA]

Does this day actually do anything to help empower women that need real help? I'm just curious and would honestly appreciate some enlightenment, here. I studied this day last year and came to the conclusion that it is simply a day for First World feminists to tip their fedoras, but I'm not convinced that enough is being done highlight some of the real struggles that Third World Women face on a daily basis in countries like Iran.

The empowerment of all women in the Third World is the key to unlocking the door that gives women the escape from poverty.

 

[invisible]

Yes... there is plenty of room for different people to get involved with different aspects of the equality project, depending on what draws them or what they feel passionate about. People really have to just contribute what they can, and for some people that is only something small. It does seem that there is a great urgency for women in the third world to be empowered, but that doesn't mean that the equality project in other parts of the world is complete, either.

 

[#@&5&49]

Yes..but that doesn't mean that the equality project in other parts of the world is complete, either.

I agree. All one has to do is spend a little time in a local battered women's shelter to see how much is still needed even in developed countries. Women may not be subjected to vaginal circumsicion or being rocked to death, but many women are still treated as less than, and I'm not talking about equality in salaries or jobs. We think we've come so far in developed countries, and we have, but that doesn't mean we don't need to continue looking at and addressing problems that are still happening in developed countries.

 

[Free]

It's not just a day to celebrate the fact that I have a vagina. I mean, come on, I celebrate that fact everyday. But seriously, what I love about International Women's Day is that it's meant to empower not just women, but all of humanity to continue striving for gender equality world-wide. It's about fighting for rights, especially in countries where women are truly oppressed by culture, religion, social status, etc.

Loliondo Maasai women participate in a rally against gender-based violence. 2012, Arusha, Tanzania.


But for myself, I love this day because of this:

Afghanistan, 2002 ceremony at the Ministry of Women's Affairs.


An educated girl grows up to be a free-thinking woman. And that is empowerment.

 

[JJJA]

I would like to add that just because I wish to empower women in the Third World, does not mean I wish to ignore First World issues. It means I want to fight the biggest battles first, followed by the smaller ones.

 

[invisible]

I think that maybe, in parts of the world, the situation is so incredibly dire that there is not even the basic humanitarian foundation that would enable genuine Women's movements to happen. Water access, militias, aseptic surgical conditions... I know there are people working on these problems. And I'm very grateful that there are people working on them, because I'd crumble under the demands of the work that those people do. I can't even really stand to read about those things, I just start crying.