International Women’s Day is a day dedicated to appreciating and acknowledging women from around the world, both big and small.
It’s a day for women to feel empowered, respected and well-deserved, but why are we limited to just one day?
Women are a driving part of our nation. We hold offices, run households; in fact, women can do everything a man does, except in heels.
Now, I’m sure there are some men who are reading this and thinking, “Why should we choose to recognize women every day, when there isn’t even a national holiday for men?”
Let me enlighten you.
Firstly, women are in fact human beings. Surprised? It’s understandable. It came as a shock to the rest of us too that women could endure childbirth and still kick ass.
Secondly, there is a national holiday for men. It’s November 19th.
Thirdly, we live in a male dominated society. This means that women make 78 cents on the dollar compared to men. This means that as women, we must endure slut-shaming, name-calling and the idea that we cannot reach the standards set by men.
This is not to say that men do not endure name-calling and / or shaming either. It just emphasizes certain hardships us women face almost every day.
By treating every day as if it was International Women’s Day, we can help appreciate the little victories, as well as, the big ones. We can help to encourage self-love and confidence among women, instead of shaming them for finding their voice. We can help shape equality.
Women deserve to be treated with the same respect and professionalism that men expect to be treated with. We deserve to be held to the same standards, and we deserve to be rewarded just as much.
Statistically, women are more educated than men. Yet, men still earn more, get hired more, and hold higher positions than women.
Care to explain that?
We are in the year 2016, and somehow we still choose to neglect the obvious: women are still not allowed the same opportunities as men.
By refusing to accept this, we are refusing to take a stand on gender equality.
By agreeing to limit our successes to one day, we are agreeing to not recognize each and every woman, and all of our individual successes. We are agreeing to not push for the same rights and standards that men are entitled to.
Women are incredible, and we deserve more than just one day to prove it true.
