I could tell it was today, because I walked past six building sites on the way into town this morning and didn't get whistled or winked at once.
I mean, that's a lie. But wouldn't that have been cool!?
Unfortunately celebrations have not been quite so universal as they are in my mind-world. I'm not surprised to see the tabloids steering clear of the subject ('what does Tina, 22, 34DD from Leicester think about equality!?') but I'm disappointed to find the Independent's coverage, given the context in which this year's IWD falls, is conspicuously half-arsed. And the Times has a Star Wars quiz more visibly positioned on it's homepage than any mention of women, let alone IWD. If you are in search of some interesting, comprehensive coverage, I direct you to the Huffington Post's dedicated page - it's really great. But on the whole, I'm feeling a little let down.
I once thought that just identifying as feminist was, well, kind of me done? That sticking the label on myself was a form of fighting for the cause; some sort of modern day equivalent to signing up to the suffragettes. I put a little feminist badge on, joined FemSoc and thought that constituted making a stand. But this isn't suffrage any more. Feminism is a very different thing in the 21st century. The word alone doesn't have a single manifesto attached to it like it did 100 years ago. It requires explanation, and more nuanced definition. In the last few years I have learned that the need for feminism clearly isn't as self-evident as I thought it was. That a lot of people are complacent about the state of equality, and don't see a need for a vast culture shift. No matter how much I bury my head in The Vagenda and Jezebel, in the wider world, feminism does still carry with it the old misinformed tags of 'whiners' 'man-haters' and 'humourless militants', for men and for women. I need to stop ignoring those people, as if they don't matter. Because this complacency and these stereotypes are more easily enforced when there is no conversation at play. When protest and change is sporadic, a needful cause can be hard to identify.
Recently, there has been a build up of events, sparking continuing debate around women's rights and the state of equality, both in the western world and globally. With the horrific case of gang rape in Delhi, and the shooting of Malala Yousafzai in Pakistan, to the NoMorePage 3 campaign and the Lord Rennard allegations here in the UK, it feels like we could be approaching a tipping point. Anger, noise and, most importantly, discussion about sexism are ever increasing. We need to keep this momentum going. Whether it's exposing the culture in Westminster or responding violence against women overseas, issues of equality are frequently making the headlines. This is promising. It's important that coverage of feminism (that broad, blanket term that is SO SO useful) stays this mainstream. I really hope that this struggle becomes a permanent media narrative. You know, like how we get every UK company's quarterly profit margins reported to us as news since the financial crash in 2008? Yeah, that kind of narrative. After reading the morning paper or watching the 6 O'Clock News, I want people's heads to be brimming uncontrollably with gender injustice and pay gap statistics. I want the discussion down the local pub to be about the pros and cons of introducing quotas. I want 5 year olds to be shouting at eachother in the playground 'Ew, you play with lego?? They advertise with page 3!'. I want women's rights to be that pervasive. We need to keep people talking, and not be sidelined or forgotten by everyone who has had to take notice in the last few months (Nick Clegg, for example).
So, to celebrate this day, I give you all a few things you can do to up the anti, and to make a difference, none of which take more than 5 minutes. Take your pick.
Read this little introduction on IWD, what it means and why it might be important to you
Read this and get angry:
Men and Women Must Unite for Change
'women aged 15-44 are more at risk from rape and domestic violence than from cancer, car accidents, war and malaria combined'
Read this synopsis of a nationwide (well, radio 4 listeners) discussion of feminism; a gauge of general opinion
And read this, for a bit of optimism. 'we can want equality before we achieve it'
Watch this funny video
and sign this: http://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/dominic-mohan-take-the-bare-boobs-out-of-the-sun-nomorepage3
And take a little look at this: http://www.everydaysexism.com/ And add to it. Because I bet you all can, boys too. I bet you'll have to choose from a list which scenario you'd like to post.
Or just comment here. Start up a discussion, Get involved!
