Is International Women’s Day outdated?

Written by Olivia Eggleston

In the century that has passed since the first international Women’s Day, gender inequality has been tangibly reduced around the globe. In most countries, women’s participation and liberties in many arenas - social, political, economic - have been on a consistent upward trajectory.  

Why, then, is there a day each year which focuses on feminist initiatives? If gender gaps are closing, and equality is increasingly pursued by governments around the world, can we not just let the trend continue? Or has “feminism” just become a pop culture buzzword that inflates marketing campaigns?

The fact is that the trajectory we have been on - while positive - has left many symptoms of gender inequality untreated. The stubborn prevalence of taboos stifles discussion around these elements, thus allowing them to prevail; unidentified and unchallenged. To acknowledge these inadequacies is to acknowledge that we still have a ways to go in the pursuit of equality between the sexes, and that this pursuit must not lose momentum. 

A day for dialogue: the cornerstone of change

Feminist activism of the 21st century has placed emphasis on openness, on dialogue, and on compassion. Over the past decade especially, activists have catalysed unprecedented change by facilitating candid discussion of taboo or ‘uncomfortable’ topics. In order for these difficult conversations to take place, it is necessary to create the space for women to speak; a space of comfort, solidarity, and willing reception of what they have to say.

Movements like #MeToo have demonstrated the power of the collective word to mobilise and unite, to create community and challenge entrenched disempowerment. As a result, light has been shed on covert issues which had previously survived under cover of darkness – or silence. Importantly, the movements of today also have the power of media at their disposal. With the ability to employ vivid storytelling for impact begins an era of activism which can communicate to a wider and more receptive audience. Sharing real and current stories through accessible mediums increases empathy and understanding between people, despite having different lived experiences, thus combatting the notion of “the other”.  

A taboo worth breaking: period poverty

The boundary-breaking power of sensitive storytelling is illustrated by a documentary short, directed by Rayka Zehtabchi, which won an Oscar in 2019. “Period. End of Sentence.” is a 26-minute profile of the stigma surrounding menstruation, and the consequences thereof, in rural India. The documentary poignantly demonstrates the way in which shame is a barrier to freedom: shame prevents conversation, which prevents education, which prevents emancipation. Menstruation is not exactly a widely discussed topic, with varying degrees of taboo attached to it even in those societies proclaimed to be more liberal. But beyond causing embarrassment, the stigma surrounding menstruation can turn a normal element of physical maturity into a disabling burden for many girls and women. 

Zehtabchi’s film documents widespread association of shame and impurity with periods. Without proper education about the changes of puberty, many women believe in the notion of “bad blood”, that they are unclean when they menstruate, or that their prayers will not be heard while they are bleeding. In light of this mis- or non-education, girls are ill-equipped to deal with their periods once they start. In fact, 52% of Indian girls do not learn what a  period is before menstruating for the first time. (van Eijk et al) Many reach for cotton rags to absorb the blood because they either do not know about or cannot access sanitary products. Poor menstrual hygiene poses health risks; causing infections which may escalate to infertility and birth complications. (World Bank)

Lack of access to sanitary products, due to stigmatisation and financial barriers, causes girls and women to be inhibited by menstruation. Every year, around 23 million Indian girls drop out of school when they start their periods. (www.dasra.org) Without the facilities or products to stay clean and comfortable, menstruation disrupts a way of living that should be equally accessible for girls and boys. Period poverty, it should be noted, is a global issue. The EU estimates that 1 in 10 European women cannot afford sanitary products. But without adequate discourse about the issue, there can be no adequate action. The taboo surrounding something experienced by 1.8 billion people every month means that the full detriment of period poverty is impossible to assess.

The butterfly effect of period poverty

The ripple effects of period poverty illustrate how private inequality translates into public inequality. The taboo around sexual health, which is an element of private life, prevents girls from completing their education and from entering or functioning equally in the workforce, thus stunting the extent of their participation in society.

The economic detriment of such non-participation ripples through the entire population of a country. The IMF reports that the benefits from gender inclusion in the workforce are even greater than previously thought. Reducing the gender gap raises wages for both men and women and, in those countries with the smallest female workforce, could increase GDP by up to 35% - which in turn props up myriad public services and initiatives, increasing the welfare of society as a whole. 

Power in unity: women’s issues are men’s issues, too

Zehtabchi’s documentary is a tender but forceful account of how disempowerment in private is intrinsically linked to disempowerment in public, and that confronting taboos head on can have a butterfly effect. The film portrays the very fundamental, human importance of activism, reminding the viewer that feminism seeks to tangibly improve livelihoods, and is not a political abstraction. 

International Women’s Day, too, is about tangible change. It is about creating a moment where the attention is on women’s issues - especially those issues that remain taboo, that remain under-acknowledged. Open conversations break down taboos and facilitate understanding, reducing the divide between the sexes.  We must all confront the extent of inequality that is invisible; or easy to ignore because talking about it makes us uncomfortable. 

Importantly, this day is also about inviting men to engage with issues of gender inequality. Women’s issues are not just women’s issues - we all suffer detriment in an unequal world. 

Female empowerment is a rising tide that lifts all boats. We are stronger together.