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Empowering Women
Celebrating International Women's Day and Its Significance
Let's Talk About Why Women Need a Day...
I think there is a constant conflict about how our world views women. My daughter is growing up quickly, and I worry constantly about the sexism she will have to face as she grows up, but I also know that she is growing up in a completely different world than I did.
The world I grew up in was also completely different from what my parents knew, and the one my grandparents knew was completely different from that.
But what does that really mean?
Amala Ekpunobi does a great job of representing our struggles as both women and men in this place we call a world by calling out everyone, not just being stuck pretending like things are perfect for women, and also not pretending like women can't be called out for doing terrible things.
The key to everything is that women should be treated as humans rather than being sidelined or put on a pedestal. Men don't need to pretend like they are weak and feeble and need protected, nor should anyone pretend they are untouchable, perfect, and incapable of making mistakes.
We seem to have this cultural idea around women of either looking down on them or putting them up on a pedestal, but in general I think all they really want is to just be treated equally.
What does equally really mean?
Honestly, that's a really tricky topic that requires an almost constant and case-by-case analysis. For example, when discussing the wage gap it is easy to make a case for both sides of the argument. In some career paths, women make as much or more than men, and in other career paths they make less.
You can easily pick and choose data that can make whatever argument you want about how much women are paid, but in general I think they key should be that women are paid for what they bring to the table, the exact same as men. If women are making less simply by being a woman, then something is wrong.
Simple enough, right?
If it were so simple, it would be fixed already.
The Importance of International Women's Day
We face a lot of problems as a society, and our treatment of women is certainly one of those problems. That being said, it isn't nearly the same as what women face in other countries.
For me, International Women's Day is a day to honor the incredible women who have paved the way for future generations. It is a day to celebrate the trailblazers, the activists, the leaders, and the unsung heroes who have fought for women's rights and empowerment. It's also a time to reflect on having a daughter and figuring out the best way to help her become a strong woman.
We get so caught up in what it is to be a strong woman, though, that it's easy to take things too far and set expectations women can't possibly live up to.
Sometimes it is okay for women to just be women and not have to be a home maker, businesswoman, and trailblazer.
Empowering Women Throughout History
We don't do nearly enough to empower most women, and too much to empower a select few. We can't have a conversation about how to empower women without delving into how some women are so busy pushing an agenda that they have managed to nearly bankrupt companies or even entire industries.
Kathleen Kennedy, for example, has been empowered to push a really powerful agenda.
After being proven that forcing her ideas on people isn't working, she has spent years doubling down and tripling down on her ideas of how the world should work. In some cases, she is right. In most cases, she is wrong.
If anything, she has done more harm to her agenda than she's done good for it, because the pendulum will inevitably swing the other way when people realize that not all content coming from Disney LucasFilm needs to be progressive, witless, and pointless.
Here is an example of how South Park has delved into the Kathleen Kennedy discussion:
Sam Hargrave
Here is how The Critical Drinker discusses some of her decisions:
But that's barely even part of the story, and the act of over empowering Kathleen Kennedy isn't the norm. It isn't even close to the norm, and if anything it is an exaggerated response to what women have to deal with on a regular basis.
To give an example of how women are normally treated we need to talk about people like Fani Willis.
She is on the opposite extreme from Kathleen Kennedy in many ways and has to deal with racist and sexist rhetoric for a situation that isn't tremendously different from things many straight white men have done in the past. She is attacked on a completely different and vitriolic level, however, than those white men ever would be.
The problem she faces, though, is that she hasn't made a great defense for herself, and her lover Nathan Wade only made things (epically) worse for her.
She has chosen to make her defense in the court of public opinion (which is a very 'Trump' move for someone who is actively attacking Trump), and her defense has been "racism and sexism".
And she's not (entirely) wrong. Sure, racism and sexism play a huge part into it. As mentioend above, there are countless examples of white men doing something similar and getting barely more than a slap on the wrist.
Does that make what is happening to her okay? No, of course not.
Does it make what she and Nathan Wade did okay? Well, no, it doesn't do that either.
But the point of making the world a better place to live means holding people accountable, including ourselves. We can't just say: "it's about time to hold white men accountable for their crimes" and then in the same breath say: "well, since white men get away with misconduct, then I should be allowed to get away with it, too, right?"
She should, but she won't. As a woman, and particularly as a black woman she is expected (and demanded) to be perfect. Falling short even the tiniest amount is equivalent to falling short completely. We shouldn't hold her to higher standards, but because of who she is and who she is prosecuting we will.
We should, however, hold everyone to a higher standard.
That brings things back to the idea of "equally". We s hould hold everyone equally accountable for the things they do and the mistakes they make, but when we hold one group to a higher standard than others how can we justify holding the other accountable. If men aren't punished fairly for their crimes, why should women be?
"Equal" is tricky when so much of life revolves around judgement calls.
It's not fair. Life's not fair.
Kathleen Kennedy is an example of someone who has gotten way too much leniency to try and push her agenda, and Fani Willis is an example of someone who hasn't gotten enough. There should be a middle ground that we can find to try and make things better for everyone, right?
In Fani's case, the real criminal, after all, is Trump. Fani Willis is just one of the people standing in the breach between our failing system of government and the void.
I don't know about you, but to me it seems like the question about what we should do to make things equal is clear, but the question about how we actually get there isn't.
Celebrating Women's Achievements
Women have done a lot for our world. A lot more than we give them credit for, so let's take a few minutes today to recognize their unspoken accomplishments.
On this day, let us celebrate the achievements of women in every sphere. Let us honor the women who have broken barriers, challenged stereotypes, and inspired change. From scientists to artists, entrepreneurs to activists, women have made indelible marks on history and continue to shape the world we live in.
As an author, I am constantly inspired by the stories of strong, resilient, and empowered women. Through my writing, I strive to amplify their voices, share their experiences, and celebrate their contributions to society.
The best people to talk about women's struggles are women. My take is just that as a society, it's a very conflicted message to say we should celebrate women, but then we attack them for pretty much anything they do or say. Our shadow culture of anonymous internet trolls is still a huge problem that we must overcome.
Looking to the Future
Let's take a step back and try to figure out if we are even on the right path forward.
There are a lot of great women out there who are breaking barriers and changing things. Women are just people, and it is long past time that we treat them like that instead of holding them separate.
In many cases we do, but in many other cases we still have a long way to go. Just like with black history month, women's day needs to become a thing of the past because it doesn't need to be held separate. Women's history is our history. It's everyone's histroy, and it should be celebrated.
As we mark International Women's Day, let us recommit ourselves to the fight for gender equality. Let us support and uplift women in our communities, advocate for policies that promote gender equity, and work towards a future where every woman and girl can achieve her full potential.
Together, we can create a world where gender does not limit opportunities, where women's voices are heard and valued, and where empowerment is not just a dream but a reality. This International Women's Day, let us celebrate how far we have come and envision a future where every woman is truly empowered.
Conclusion
This is a conflicted post. I've seen both sides of how things work, and I know that all of life is a pendulum, constantly swinging back and forth. It swings really far one way and then has no choice but to swing right back the other way.
More things should be made for women, but Madame Web is a perfect example of something that never should have been made. We shouldn't celebrate women by forcing them to act like or become men.
International Women's Day is a day to honor the past, celebrate the present, and envision the future. It is a day to recognize the strength, resilience, and power of women everywhere. As we commemorate this day, let us stand in solidarity, lift each other up, and continue the journey towards a more equal and just world for all.
But honestly, who really knows? Today is auspicious, but it probably shouldn't be. Let me know what you all think.
