The 99th International Women’s Day (IWD) is around the corner. It is celebrated on March 8 every year, since 1914. International Women's Day was created to inspire women throughout the world to work towards equality. The day is commemorated at the United Nations and celebrated in nations around the globe. Now it is a public holiday in many countries.
The Charter of the United Nations, signed in San Francisco in 1945, was the first international agreement to proclaim gender equality as a fundamental human right. Since then, UN has helped create a historic legacy of internationally agreed strategies, standards, programmes and goals to advance the status of women worldwide. Since then, UN is also on the forefront in giving due thrust to this day and for efforts on gender equity and equal opportunity employment.
On this day, large-scale events are organized that honour women's advancement. The occasion highlights women achievers from all over the world, who have made a difference in one way or other, during the year. It also calls for continued care and action required to ensure that women's equality is gained and maintained in all aspects of life. Thus, IWD is now a platform that reminds us of the agenda and attention required for upliftment of women.
It is a basic truth that enduring solutions to society's most threatening domestic, socio-economic, cultural and political problems can be found only with the full participation, and total empowerment, of women, all over the world.
As far as India is concerned, gender equity as a concept is yet to pierce the depths of patriarchal societies. Changes in societal attitude are warranted on many issues. We have a long way to go. Atrocities against women as always on the anvil. In the current scenario, the myriad topics of concern are domestic violence, dowry deaths, female foeticide, maternal death at delivery; all prevail in the private domain. Low rates of female literacy, reduced ratios of women in employment and local governance, sexual harassments in public places, to repeated reports on rape and exploitation of all sorts including low wages at grassroots are all in plenty in the public set up. All social evils point to the basic necessity for better empowerment of women, in all areas of life. So, the international women’s day holds special significance.
However, at this transition stage, as we cover a century of WD celebrations, let us strike a positive note. With every IWD, the progress of women is assessed. It also points to the greater extent of efforts required in future to accomplish practical gender equity in all spheres of life.
The United Nations Human Development Report 2004 estimated that when both paid employment and unpaid household tasks are accounted for, on average women work more than men. In rural areas of selected developing countries, women performed an average of 20% more work than men, or an additional 102 minutes per day. In the OECD countries surveyed, on average women performed 5% more work than men, or 20 minutes per day. At the UN's Pan Pacific Southeast Asia Women's Association 21st International Conference in 2001, it was stated that "in the world as a whole, women comprise 51 percent of the population, do 66 percent of the work, receive 10 percent of the income and own less than one percent of the property".
The increased entry of women into the workplace beginning in the twentieth century has affected gender roles and the division of labor within households. Sociologist Arlie Russell Hochschild in The Second Shift and The Time Bind presents evidence that in two-career couples, men and women, on average, spend about equal amounts of time working, but women still spend more time on housework.[24][25] Feminist writer Cathy Young responds to Hochschild's assertions by arguing that in some cases, women may prevent the equal participation of men in housework and parenting.
Feminist criticisms of men's contributions to child care and domestic labor in the Western middle class are typically centered around the idea that it is unfair for women to be expected to perform more than half of a household's domestic work and child care when both members of the relationship perform an equal share of work outside the home. Several studies provide statistical evidence that the financial income of married men does not affect their rate of attending to household duties.
There are many jargons associated with empowerment of women. Most of them are dreams that beckon woemn at large. Equity feminism aims at complete civil and legal equity for wome; whereas, gender feminism tries to eliminate contemporary gender roles altogether. Latter thrusts for preference to women in child custody, divorce proceedings and pay equity.
Personally, I am most attracted to individual feminism that encourages women to take full responsibility for their lives. For me, Feminism is a belief in women’s rights. It’s an effort based on the need to defend and secure the rights and opportunities for women equal to those of men, with a commitment. This spirit is rekindled in every woman by the celebrations on this day.
“Feminism is necessarily a struggle to eradicate the ideology of domination that permeates culture on various levels, as well as a commitment to reorganizing society so that the self-development of people can take precedence over imperialism, economic expansion and material desires." (Gloria Jean Watkins (who uses the pseudonym "bell hooks". Feminist theory from margin to center (1984); revised 2000.Cambridge: South End Press. p. 26)
Feminism naturally has a long reach. Sara Evans, an author, wrote her experiences in books such as "The Roots of Women's Liberation in the Civil Right Movement and the New Left" and "Born for Liberty". Her works focused more on young women activists recognizing that the "personal is political" as well as showing how these women used discussion sessions to expand understanding of the social roots of personal problems and worked towards developing different practices to address those issues.
Part of what made feminism so successful was the way women in different situations developed their own variants and organized for the goals most important to them.
Although, globally, the Feminist Movement has spanned almost a century there are ways in which to breakdown the timeline and recognize how women have framed the ways they have achieved different goals throughout history. Men and women worked to address issues of working women, gender roles, salary, and opportunities of women in the workforce.
In India too, Women’s day is celebrated with great fervour. Several women’s organisations, NGO’s students and social activists participate actively by organising seminars, mass rallies, movie and documentary shows, staging of gender sensitive plays, theatre and so on. Several government and civil society initiatives like girl child education, reservation of seats in local panchayats, etc. have led to empowering the Indian woman today. However, much more still needs to be addressed to make women equal citizens. The International Women’s Day thus serves as a reminder of how much we have achieved and how much more still needs to be done.
As world celebrates women’s day on March 8, this year, there is definitely a positive note to this extravaganza. Frankly, I have drawn inspirations from many famous women; who have left a trail behind, have created a niche in history … Every accolade of any women; be it a medal by Sania Mirza or a promotion to Jessy Thomas, or planting of another 100 trees by Wangara Mathai; all sent a unique chill right into me as well. Woman of course has immense talents and abilities.
Many women have the potential and desire to make a difference. However, when it comes down to it, how many really know what steps to take and how to fit it into our lives? Contributing our time, treasure, and talents to causes far removed from the immediacy of our individual lives can make a world of difference. Thus, each one of us can create change simply by doing what we can, where we are, with what we have.
For millennia, women have left their mark on the world, at times changing the course of history and at other times influencing small but significant spheres of life. Only in the past century, however, have concerted efforts been made to represent women's contributions more fully in history books. Consequently, changes in status for many women in modern times—the right to own property, to vote, and to choose their own careers—may obscure the accomplishments made by women of earlier eras.
Annually there are many who are identified as inspiring role models and achievers. The role of great women, women who were influential in history, their evolution over a period of time, are being depicted in the history of women, recorded world over in an earnest effort to transfer to posterity. Many women have made visible impacts and have become role models to the coming generations. This is one of the major wide reaching aspects of IWD, every year.
A glimpse at these appreciations would help women themselves to liberate their minds from the clutches of conservative attitudes and self limitations as humanity treads into another century of technological advancement, gender equity and sustainable development.
As I look forward into the present IW day, my thoughts streamed across women who lured me. Life, it naturally evolves through different stages and at each step, I was drawn to extremely different types of personalities.
Of the great legends who fascinated me the most were Florence Nightingale (the lady with the lamp). Her noble care of wounded soldiers with utmost dedication triggered in me compassion and commitment in service at the deepest levels, even as a kid. These were later strengthened by the service of Mother Teresa for the care of underprivileged. From them, I imbibed so much that I could treat street beggars on par as fellow beings.
Spiritual explorations as a kid, drew me to Meera Bhai of Bhakti movement and Mata Sita in Bal Ramayana. Later, as I read Kasturba Gandhi, I added sacrifice and submission in service to man and God to devotion.
Amidst the popular legendary leaders I appreciate Margaret Thatcher, Indira Gandhi and Kiran Bedi for their unique leadership qualities. As a professional, women who fascinated me were Madame Marie Curie, Helen Keller and Maria Montessori. Their innovative ways, perseverance and undying enthusiasm at the face of adversities … all taught me lessons for survival in hard times.
I love many woman writers also. In fact, I adore some of them. As a kid, Enid Blyton was my first love. I evolved reading through Agatha Christie, Jane Austen, George Eliot and Madhavikutty. Their use of simple language for communication, styles that touched ones heart and stroke a chord right within were the attractions. List of legends and personalities of the present era is exhaustive. Along with all these great women, my mother, some of my teachers and many of my friends have inspired my evolution, without even me neither taking note of their role in my lives nor ever acknowledging for their “fee free, feel free” valuable contributions.
