Tomorrow (Saturday 8th March) is International Women’s Day – a celebration which began in the 1900s, a time in which women’s rights were just beginning to become widely recognised and women were becoming more vocal about their rights. It’s amazing to think of the progress that has occurred in around 100 years but in most countries, including America and Europe, we are still far from having equal rights. Issues such as equal pay and opportunities at work, sexual harassment and pressure to look at certain way still have a massive impact on the lives of women across the world.
So this International Women’s Day, what can we do to let the world know how amazing the fairer sex is?
- Attend a debate – on the 12th of March the School of Classics is hosting a debate titled “Women in Academia”, discussing the role of women in universities, a topic which influences all collegiates. For more information, follow the link: http://www.internationalwomensday.com/esearch.asp?country=221&town=St+Andrews#.UxmrX_nV98M
- Make a playlist – Fearne Cotton on Radio 1 has been promoting International Women’s Day by creating a “Fierce Women Playlist”, available on Spotify. Think Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, Gloria Gaynor…play it loud and sing along into a hairbrush. You are fabulous.
- Tell someone they’re beautiful – friend, mum, sister…we all have impossibly high standards of how we should look promoted by the media and even each other. Being a successful woman is so much more than having perfect hair! Let someone know how great they look, it’ll make both of you feel good.
- Girl’s night out – leave the boyfriends/crushes behind, put on your favourite party dress and hit the town with your best Single Ladies dance.
- Shout about it – the more people who know about International Women’s Day, the more people who will be aware that there are problems. Although things aren’t perfect in Europe, it’s hard to believe that in some countries women’s rights aren’t even a topic of discussion. Equal rights should be globally accepted and expected.
Feminism isn’t about women thinking that we’re better than men, it’s believing that everyone, no matter what gender, race or background deserves equal rights. As university students, we’re in the best position to promote gender equality and can make a real difference! For more information about International Women’s Day, check out: http://www.internationalwomensday.com/