With March 8 being marked as International Women’s Day, how much have women around the world really gained? Perhaps, it would be better to say that this is in essence a way of honoring them? Is it really? It should be, but for several decades the day appears to have become a manner of acknowledging the importance of women, expressing the need of their being accorded greater respect, more powers and so forth? Symbolic rhetoric in such tone is certainly routinely expressed more for the sake of gaining attention for how concerned some authorities are for uplifting socio-economic stature of women.
Historically, it may be noted, initiative taken by women for aggressively asserting their rights and duties led to this day being designated as International Women’s Day. The day’s significance does not rest in expressing sympathy for them as socially unprivileged. There is a view that the first Women’s Day was observed by United States on February 28, 1909. This was to honor the garment workers’ protest against poor working conditions. There are reports of around 15,000 women have marched in New York demanding shorter working hours, higher wages and right to vote. For years, last Sunday of February was observed as Woman’s Day as designated by Socialist Party of America to honor the garment workers’ strike. March 8 was declared as International Woman’s Day in 1922 by Russian Revolutionary leader Vladimir Lenin to honor their role in 1917 Russian Revolution. Officially, United Nations designated March 8 as International Women’s Day in 1977.
The world was compelled to acknowledge their importance in response to women choosing to assert their role in the Russian Revolution and as garment workers in USA. In both cases, it is possible, the role of women as strong fighters probably stunned those around them and moved them to pay greater attention to them, than they had apparently earlier. They chose to do so by designating a day as International Women’s Day. Of course, it would be wrong to say that several efforts are not being made to elevate the socio-economic status and assure them equality. But in a way, it would also be incorrect to say that genuine steps are really being made in this direction even in countries viewed as democratic. What seems closer to truth is the reality of the majority of women are still being deprived of equal rights and are still being subject to discrimination as well as abuse. Politically, though in parts of few countries, they appear to be in the lead, at large they still don’t have even thirty percent representation in their legislatures.
Males are given greater dominance as well as salary in most occupations, irrespective of the fact that females may be equally qualified and giving the same amount/hours of services. Even in film industry, overall, the fairer gender receives lesser salary than males. In liberal, also labelled as “modern” parts of the world, equality of women is linked with their wearing skimpy clothes and so forth. Little attention is paid to whether they enjoy “equal” rights at other levels, including domestic as well as economic fields too. Of course, each person has the right and freedom to dress as it pleases her/him. But the hitch lies in attitude of others towards the same, which doesn’t seem suggestive of their viewing them as equal. Yes, physically, women may be viewed as weaker than men. But, this does not suggest that they should be viewed as of lesser intellect and lesser emotional strength than men. If this was the case, women would not have been acted as great pillars responsible for strong foundation of their respective families and also of societies they live in. The latter point also suggests that to a degree women may also be viewed as responsible for abuses as well as discrimination they are still being subject to. Recognition of March 8 as International Women’s Day has not been able to combat or overcome this hard reality.
Whether it be East or West, upper class or lower class, rural area or urban, any religion, caste/class, women don’t enjoy as much importance as men do at various levels. In other words, the discriminatory trend prevails in the attitude held towards them by men as well as women in general. Till these social barriers prevail and till genuine effort is not made to actually overcome them, in essence, the fairer gender shall remain entrapped at various levels.
Certainly, there are a few exceptions where women remain in command of how they exercise their strength as well as power. Unfortunately, this does not appear to be the trend in general. The tendency of their being subject to command and prowess seems more prevalent. Yes, in most homes, senior women are responsible for this trend. They also tend to give greater importance to their sons than to their daughters as well as daughters-in-law. The same thinking extends to outside home also. Now, this does not mean that men should not be blamed for women being considered inferior in comparison to them. In all probability, most men don’t have any problem with this attitude. Neither, do they have any problem about asserting importance of women as and when they are required to. The fault lies in approach held by men and women regarding this in their minds and their attitude. As if they are taking a great humane and benevolent step by expressing their thoughts and plans to “uplift” the status of women. As if their hollow speeches and views would actually contribute towards the same. Women who have chosen not to be entrapped by such rhetoric should be complimented. What carried importance more than a century carries the same relevance today. It is for women to assert their own importance, through their own voice, writings, when need be through demonstrations and so forth. Rhetoric as well as March 8 messages have so far played hardly any role in reducing demand for dowry, discrimination, abuse of women and so on. How can it, till it remains a mirage!