Women's Day

March is known as Women’s History Month across the world. March 8th, specifically, is International Women’s Day. This day serves as a day of recognition for any achievements made by women. 

Since many societies have patriarchal structures, meaning power is held by men, womens’ rights is an ongoing fight. In the United States, many movements were built to fight for equal rights and freedoms for women as were afforded to men. Women were subjected to stay in homes or have low-level jobs because they “aren’t as good as men”. The same thought process was applied when it came to voting. Women weren’t allowed to vote until the 19th amendment was passed in 1920. In other countries, women aren’t allowed to walk around freely without a male escort. 

To this day, men don’t treat women as equals despite women gaining rights in many areas. Gender inequality is still a prevalent issue in our society. Women don’t get the same pay as men even when they hold the same jobs, and some aren’t even considered for certain jobs simply because they’re female. Women face discrimination in the workplace not only by fellow coworkers, but by customers as well. Many female pilots will receive hate because a woman “ doesn’t know how to operate a complex vehicle like a plane.” 

Apart from their sex, race and ethnicity also play a large role in women’s rights. Many minority women are treated worse than white or light-skinned women. Despite the progress that has been made for women’s rights, intersectional discrimination of minority women is frequent. 

All of these issues are highlighted during the month of March to expose the inequality women face. International Women’s Day celebrates the life of all women in the world and appreciates the women who have fought for the rights we have now. To commemorate this day, others can participate by donating to charities that support women in need, express gratitude to the women in your life, or wear purple, green, or white. The color purple is associated with Women’s Day because it represents justice, dignity, and loyalty to the cause. White represents purity, and green represents hope. 

I hope you all have learned something new about this holiday and take the time to celebrate the women in your lives. The fight for womens’ rights and equality remains ongoing, so we should all do our part to contribute to a more just society. Happy Women’s History Month!