On this International Women’s Day of the 8th of March 2015: The heart celebrate and mind think
By Amer Mayen Dhieu, Brisbane, Australia
Today is the 8th of March, It is International Women Day. On this day I do not only want to thank radical feminists for their campaign against sex slavery, I do not wish to thank only the liberal feminists who have and continue to campaign for women’s right to vote, equal pay at work and consideration in high ranking job in the government, businesses, military and all professions.
I do not only wish to thanks social and marxist feminists who denounced prostitution as mean to exploit women’s bodies, who campaign for equal share of domestic work and childcare between men and women and who for the first time considered and acknowledged the impact of cultural and social norms to women. I do not wish to only thank cultural feminists who powerfully believes that the different between women and men lies in psychological beliefs but not in the biological innate.
I extended my thank you message but not only to the great postmodern feminists who have acknowledged and ruled out the impact of colonialism on women of colour and preach the argument that colonialism exposed them to racism, ethnic conflicts as well as economic and political grievances.
But I also want to thank the very first women who brought to the public attention the underlying issues of gender inequality, the perceptions, the stereotypes that has overshadowed the woman’s status in all corners of the world. Who have written many powerful books that are today read and conceptualise around the globe. I thank feminism scholars: Betty Friedan of “Feminine Mystique” who at first “sparked the second-wave of the Women’s Movement in the United States” and who more than any other scholar introduced variety of issues surrounding gender in an expandable way that brings sexuality and reproductive right into gender discussion. I also want to thank Eve Ensler, the author of “The vagina Monologues” and Simone de Beauvoir whom their writing had focused so much on issues that were entirely ignored and remains unseen by other feminists and whose effort brought upon discussion over “sex to menstruation, birth, rape, and female genital mutilation”
Feminism as the only theory that focuses on women suffered severe breakdown and backlashes. It’s significances are not appreciated or accepted rather opted to protest against. There is observed mistreatment of the theory itself in academic world of which academicians focuses on its breakages. Feminism started as one theory and just like other political theories of liberalism and realism grow branches. Instead of naming its branches with names such as that of neo-realism or neo-liberalism, branches of feminism are sees and argue to be different types rather of different branches in order to make it appears as theory of rivalry and misunderstanding.
Although many of its tenets are uses in daily basis by both men and women in business, in politics, in economy, in science and many other academic professions and whom ideas are use to form system of government, business strategies and course structures, feminism has yet succeed in changing society behaviours against women. Regardless of the contribution made by all feminists in government and small business, their work has continue to be underestimated and often not talk about like the speeches of President Obama, of Benjamin Natanyahu and of Iran and France presidents.
Yesterday was the 7th of March, the day that comes before International Women’s Day that is recognised and made public holiday in countries such as China. I observe Tv Channels, Radios, online magazines and social media, 98% of these digital instrumental devices appear to be optimistic in mentioning the importance of the day coming a head, the 8th of March considered globally as International’s Women’s day and at this year marking the 24th annual international women’s day. Their silence does not only portray how inconsiderate our society could be but also showcase how days that are important to women are not taken too seriously starting from personal level, to businesses, government sectors and academic institutions. Twenty four years from today, International Women’s day is not yet to be made public holiday in countries like Ukraine and Russia.
Non of the above mentioned countries has extended an observed appreciations to the significants changes and impacts that women brought upon to the professionally peaceful coexistence of male and female gender. Scientist cannot deny using feminists ideas of fertility control pills, politicians cannot deny using women’ ideas in politic, in foreign policy and even in military strategies. Business people cannot deny the contributing impact and the role women has played in their success yet not all men in all global societies are considerately celebrating this important day in women’s calendar.
Yesterday I had to send three executive emotional signals to my “Boyfriend” before I send him physical message bringing to his attention that tomorrow is International Women’s Day. My action comes amid his high interest in the so called AU (African Union) report on South Sudan conflict which I saw as an act of underestimation. Women do not only feel undervalued in political positions, businesses and academic professions but entirely on family, social and cultural institutions. The silence and acceptation of force and early child marriages in Africa, women genitals cut and lack of freedom of choice in Middle Eastern countries and domestic violence, rape and murdering of women in western countries is threatening to the life of women globally.
Men in power in Western countries sees it as human behaviour commit by criminals within the society instead of seeing it as men of taking advantages of women physical vulnerabilities. Priests, pastors and Imams in African and Middle Eastern Churches and Mosques claims it as Bible and Quran teaching while traditionalised elders believe it to be culturally acceptable.
For these cruel and ignorant practices I do not only wish to thank the great women who have successfully done well in bringing issues of gender to light, not my great heroins who came up at the very first place with the idea of feminism that have today brought the widow of air to all women or the brilliant academicians who have written many historical books that will continue to serve as a reminder to gender inequality in all aspects. But to the brave women in middle East who are emotionally and psychologically fighting cultural and religious war on women, the innocent women in Africa who are serving jail term of lack of awareness, empowerment and illiteracy and to the women In Asia and Western countries who have equipped themselves with all possible skills to be reward with top job and equal pay yet they are being deny the opportunity because of gender. It takes woman’s bravery to be physically, emotionally and psychologically assault yet strongly continue to survive with unfading scares as important member of society.
The inner bravery of women who are looking after their children without their husbands, of women that are physically abuse, rape, murder in cold blood, of women whom genitals are cut, whom clitoris and their female apples sewed and sealed in expense of serving men with female impurity. The bravery of African women who are victims of men-initiated wars, whose rape and murder cases are use as tactical weapons and their killings to justify military victory. The innocent and illiterate women whom their rights are taken advantage of because they are not aware if they exists, whom opportunities are taken because they cannot have them is what this day represent.
My heartfelt thanks to the young girls in African countries who are icons of humanity, those little girls who have accepted to be married off so their brothers can go to school or get married, who sees through financial hardship of their families and opt for dowry exchanged and to all women in all corners whom their form of sufferings is yet to be discover.
Today is not only about celebration of women achievements as claim by those who thought they have correctly put it. It is celebration of women’s bravery, of women’s courage, of women’s compassion, of intelligence, of women’s faith in change and willingness to accept and lives by and with. There are so many parts of gender issues that women will continue to fight for equality but there are more corners in the world that women need to be culturally, religiously and socially liberated. It is my faith and of all women faith that the upcoming generation of women be prepared for these. Each female child born today is born to the debt of long to do lists.
They must be told, through education they must be taught how to make changes starting on their backyard to the backyards of woman sleeping on the road side, the one being gang rape and the silenced one whose suffering is not yet known. The list is long but it is not killing to say women have done much of it. May this day brings realisation of women’s potentials, dreams and talent and the skills that they need to continue enjoy their living as women of today’s world. Happy International Women’s Day to all women, rich and poor, independent and dependents, to all mothers and sisters and to all aunts. #Bewoman!Servewomen.
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