International Women’s Day 2020: Fighting for gender equality
Written By
Taskin Karim
Department
Content Writing
Batch No
9
Category
Article
3.4/5
International Women’s Day is a Generation Equality Campaign. It is not only a women issue, rather it is an economic issue on the broad spectrum. The 2020 International Women’s Day is focused to make an equal world for an enabled world.
Theme:
This year’s campaign is “#EachForEqual”. It draws attention to what changes different individuals can make. United Nations Women are campaigning every year to bring together people of every gender, age, ethnicity, race, religion & country to build a gender-equal world. United Nation’s Women’s Day theme for 2020 is, “I am Generation Equality: Realizing Women’s Rights”
Why is it important?
According to The United Nation, “In this 2020, no country in this world has achieved gender equality.” Women are still refused for basic education. They receive less pay for equal work as men. On the other hand, men are made to feel entitled to decide for women in their lives. It is very upsetting that not a single country in this world can claim gender equality. Women and girls are oppressed onstage and off stage everywhere. Multiple obstacles remain unchanged in law and culture. They are being undervalued. They have fewer choices in job, education and also in family life. They experience different forms of violence at home and also in public spaces. Even worse, if a woman is successful, there is always a threat to pull her back.
Role of women:
Women are a valuable part of our society. They play a vital role in human progress. From birth till death, there is always a role of a woman in our lives as a mother, sister, girlfriend, friend, wife, teacher, coworker and so on. Most importantly, they give birth, thus bear the seed of a new generation. But despite their importance, women are always being neglected and are considered inferior to men.
Napoleon said, “Give me good mothers, I will give you a good nation.”
Nelson Mandela once said, “Freedom cannot be achieved unless the women have been emancipated from all forms of oppression.”
How did it all start?
International Women’s day is observed every year on March 8 to celebrate the women’s movement and struggle for equality across all aspects from political to social matters. History says that International Women’s Day has been observed since 1900. In 1908, 1500 women marched through New York City demanding for voting rights, better pay and shorter working hours. Then in 1910, a German feminist Clara Zetkin tabled the idea of “International Women’s Day”. She suggested all women should be united on this day to raise their voices for their rights. Responding to her call, more than 100 women from 17 countries agreed and International Women’s Day was formed. The first year it was celebrated in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland. Now it is celebrated all over the world.
How it is observed?
It is celebrated through campaigns, art performance, talks, rallies, conference etc. Some countries such as Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Cambodia, Cuba celebrate it as an official holiday. China, Madagascar, Nepal honor their women workers with a holiday. Some countries celebrate it similar to Mother’s Day. The Male members of the family present their wives, girlfriend, mothers and other female members of their family and friends with flowers and gifts.
This year, 2020 is important for gender equality. This year, International Women’s Day will be celebrated with the 25th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action in China. It was adopted in 1995 at the 4th World Conference on Women. It is said to be the most progressive roadmap for the empowerment of women everywhere.
United Nation will observe International Women’s Day at the United Nations Secretariat in New York City on Friday, March 6. The event will celebrate the achievements of those women who have overcome their equality barriers. They will also hold a discussion table on how they can take the initiative of women empowerment to another level in this new decade.
Some good impacts:
- More girls are attending school than ever before.
- Maternal mortality has fallen by 38% between 2000 and 2017
- Three-quarters of the countries of the world now have laws to tackle domestic violence
- In politics, men and women vote at a similar rate.
What can you do?
Feel the awareness of gender equality, but you don’t know what to do?
Here are some suggestions for you:
- Make a pledge: You can pledge IWD websites to help women for gender equality. You can upload your picture with #EachforEqual sign.
- Join Events: Many events are happening in our society and also around the world. You can participate in these events to be aware of the issue and feel the importance and make the society conscious of it.
- Hosting an event: you can always use your creative idea and host your event. Invite motivational speakers or give an awareness speech on your own. IWD always encourages such actions. Remember, this fight is against a mindset, not against a particular gender. Collectively each one of us can help to create a gender-equal world.
Finally, we can say that no one day is enough to celebrate the achievements of women and it is never too late to admit that women do run the world.
A message to all the women:
You are stronger than anyone can imagine. Don’t let anyone stop you because you are a woman. Celebrate the endless power you hold. Happy Women’s Day to all.