International Women’s Day 2010
International Women’s Day is a global day celebrating the economic, political and social achievements of women past, present and future.
But celebrating International Women’s Day is always such a bittersweet experience for me – a reminder, year after year, that after accomplishing so much during the first three quarters of the 20th century, progress seems to have stalled during the past 30 years.
Maybe it’s because we’re now fighting for subtler rights – not for the right to vote or for the right to own property but for rights such as the right to be free of gender-based violence, for the right to be treated equally in the workplace, and for the right to be treated with respect.
We’re not there yet, and while some of my readers argue that my focus on media portrayal of women is wrong – that we have the choice to simply not consume those images, that the media doesn’t really have that much influence over us, I beg to differ.
I beg to differ because women like Lindsay copeland have taught me that media images did in fact influence their decision to undergo plastic surgery or liposuction; because many women still die every year trying to “improve” themselves with plastic surgery; because until I started educating myself, I never realized how heavily manipulated those media images really are; and because if we don’t know they are heavily manipulated, and young girls and women will not know unless we tell them, women will continue to be influenced by these images and feel inadequate, even depressed.
So what does it mean to be a woman in the 21st century in the developed world? First of all, it means you’re very lucky – by law, you have the exact same rights and freedoms as a man. You’re free to vote, to own property, to drive, to learn, to work. The law protects you from gender-based crime. You are doing so much better than your sisters in the developing world who are still being abused, harassed, raped, kidnapped, maimed, burned, stoned, trafficked, molested, exploited, and abducted on a daily basis – and in most cases, the criminals are never prosecuted, let alone spend jail time or otherwise pay for their crime.
But even for you, being a woman still means paying a heavy social, cultural and financial price. You waste thousands of dollars and precious time every year on looking “feminine.” You wear painful, damaging high heels and restrictive clothes, cover your “imperfections” with makeup, dye your hair to look “better” or “younger,” spend a fortune on anti-aging creams that don’t work, undergo dangerous plastic surgery, deadly liposuction and painful hair removal. You work hard but earn less than men do, work harder and get reprimanded for being a “bad mom.” You play like the guys and are labeled as a bitch, play nice and stay behind.
As the mother of two bright, talented young girls it pains me to say this, but in the 21st century, in the developed world, being a woman is still a major liability.
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Loved this Comment: “for the last ten years, the annual wages for females has been stalled in the high 70% bracket. Granted, it’s better than the 60% +/- we saw up until 1990, but we still have a long road ahead of us. It’s really no wonder more women are becoming business owners and taking the ball into their own hands and gaining control of their own income.” Barbara Swafford, Blogging Without A Blog.
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Chase March responds:
Posted: March 8th, 2010 at 5:48 am →
It’s amazing to realize that we have come so far but we still have not arrived. I hope more men will get this message today as well.
Dr. J responds:
Posted: March 8th, 2010 at 7:18 am →
Progress has stalled in too many areas! I hope the next thirty years will bring the needed changes to our conflicted world. Like politics, I think the best hope for these changes is to think globally, but act locally.
Dot responds:
Posted: March 8th, 2010 at 8:42 am →
And it’s far worse in many other countries. Why don’t we start with a woman president who’s aware and vocal on all these issues? Wouldn’t that kind of leadership be nice? Dozens of other countries have elected female leaders, but the U.S. just can’t seem to see their way to doing that. I see that as one of the biggest symptoms of the discrimination against women that exists here.
Feminist Review responds:
Posted: March 8th, 2010 at 8:43 am →
A current event to add to the list of things to celebrate today: An Oscar Win for International Women’s Day! Pretty nice timing, no?
David "CrazyKinux" Perry responds:
Posted: March 8th, 2010 at 11:05 am →
Indeed, it does seem like the last 30 years haven’t resulted in more change. And though the changes that are being sought out are more subtle, they are, in my opinion, of major impact to their respective societies (equal pay, extended maternity leave, access to better healthcare, etc.)
I’m proud and happy to live in a country (and a province) where mothers can receive unemployment benefits for a FULL YEAR to raise our children. Such is but an example of the benefits we (yes, I do include myself in this fight) are fighting for today!
(P.S.: How ironic that as I’m reading your article, I notice Google Ads offering “Fat Loss Report” and plastic surgery consultations. Took a screenshot if you’re curious.)
janice | Sharing the Journey responds:
Posted: March 8th, 2010 at 12:11 pm →
Nice one Vered. I keep forgetting to check my calendar with the international dates.
I read the paragraph beginning “…for you, being a woman…”and was able to smile, hold my head up and say “Nope, it doesn’t.” to every one of them. But it took me 50 years and the love of an amazing man.
I’d rather spend my time and energy doing something about my “…sisters in the developing world who are still being abused, harassed, raped, kidnapped, maimed, burned, stoned, trafficked, molested, exploited, and abducted on a daily basis – and in most cases, the criminals are never prosecuted, let alone spend jail time or otherwise pay for their crime.”
By the way, I know you have no control over them, but your google ads are hitting an off note which actually lends weight to your post. (At the time of posting, they’re showing plastic surgery in Tunisia and a dating agency.)
Diana responds:
Posted: March 8th, 2010 at 12:20 pm →
My daughter is living in Australia. It’s worse there than here – sexism and looks-ism. Where she lives, on the gold coast, meter maids wear gold lame (insert the accent mark; I don’t know how) bikinis with fake tans and bleached hair. Oh! And they wear banners, a la beauty pageant style, declaring them to be parking servants.
I watched the Oscars last night (I love the movies) and I think Sandra Bullock must have had her face frozen with botox. I remember her in the early days as being fairly expressive facially. She was very serious looking in her acceptance speech last night and didn’t smile at all. But she had no frown lines either, or crow’s feet. I’m used to it with some of the actresses but not Sandra. I hope it isn’t true (that she’s freezing her face with botox).
My favorite, the most beautiful woman there last night? Helen Mirren. The sexiest man? Christopher Plummer. Age rocks. I hope I can get over the fear and let it happen. Of course, I’m not as beautiful as Helen, but attitude myst have something to do with it, right?
We see from the movie Precious, and the book it is based on, that we are no safer here now than we were 50 years ago. The threat of harm comes from many sides.
Barbara Swafford responds:
Posted: March 8th, 2010 at 1:02 pm →
Hi Vered,
You’re right. The progress for women has stalled. Recently I was researching for a blog post and one of the things I checked was wages for women. The wages for females has always lagged behind males, and as stated in this report by the Census Bureau, the gap doesn’t appear to be closing anytime soon. In fact for the last ten years, the annual wages for females has been stalled in the high 70% bracket. Granted, it’s better than the 60% +/- we saw up until 1990, but we still have a long road ahead of us.
It’s really no wonder more women are becoming business owners and taking the ball into their own hands and gaining control of their own income.
I’m also wondering if that is why I’m seeing more female bloggers than I did when I started in 2007. I think, maybe so.
Jannie Funster responds:
Posted: March 8th, 2010 at 1:21 pm →
How can we not “consume” those distorted media images when all we have to do is drive on a highway or walk into a mall to see them forced on our children?? I agree with begging to differ on that one too, Vered.
Patricia responds:
Posted: March 8th, 2010 at 2:25 pm →
Yes women have a pretty good life in North American and it happened at a big price and lots of hard work from those who came before. I would also add that women’s health studies were not conducted on women until during President Clinton’s years in office; breast cancer research was done on MEN!
Women are still more likely to be dropped by health insurance as they grow older than men and are still denied Long Term Care Ins. because they live longer ( so if you have a chronic disease or diabetes or weigh too much – sorry none for you) Women are still more likely to become ill when married and men get healthier when married.
Women are also supposed to be sexually more active to keep up with their menfolks desires, but then their BC pills are one of the largest polluters of our clean water supply and are messing up the fish biology big time (males producing eggs and homosexual sea gulls are common place now) All the bleach used in cleaning products and sanitary supplies are destroying our environment and giving us more and more cancer.
We have a long, long way to go….and women have to stop working the male agendas/media agendas to accomplish healthy goals in order to have healthy kids and earth. I often feel overwhelmed and frustrated by how much education is needed.
As a woman who broke through a barrier in a male dominated field ( in Grad school 750 men to 11 women/ 9 had nervous breakdowns) It would be nice to get some recognition. I have only met one or two women who are even interested because I did not “succeed” in my career choice to their definitions. I think surviving and graduating is a great success story. Oh and taking a stand set up that lack of respect or career success …
and that keeps the light shining.
our new Conference leader is in his 30s and can’t understand why I was disrespected so… or the journey, but he just got me a grant for innovation and creativity for my blog….there is hope
Marelisa responds:
Posted: March 8th, 2010 at 2:46 pm →
Hi Vered: Happy International Women’s Day! Yeah, we definitely have a long way to go. Although Costa Rica elected it’s first woman president in January, Panama had its first woman president a few years back, and the president of Argentina, as well as the outgoing president of Chile, are women.
Lawyer Mom responds:
Posted: March 8th, 2010 at 4:36 pm →
Did you see this week’s cover of the Economist? 100 million girls . . . GONE (aborted or killed) due to things like China’s “one child only” policy. It’s horrible.
MomGrind responds:
Posted: March 8th, 2010 at 5:10 pm →
I just wanted to thank everyone for your comments. Today is a bit too hectic for me to respond individually to each of you, but I am reading each comment, and I am thinking that my biggest fear is that thirty years from today it will be the same for my daughters, and sixty years from today – for my granddaughters.
wisegirl responds:
Posted: March 8th, 2010 at 8:11 pm →
very true. these harsh truths are hitting home harder in business school
J.D. Meier responds:
Posted: March 8th, 2010 at 11:41 pm →
I like your contrast and distinction between the big wins and the subtler, on-going wins. It’s the little things that can mean a lot.
Lori Hoeck responds:
Posted: March 9th, 2010 at 10:20 am →
Hi Vered,
Huge strides have been made since I was a kid in the 70s. I’ve been a firefighter and I’m a senior martial artist — those things were unheard of for women a few years ago. Unfortunately the heart of humans can be a wily beast that passes cultural norms on to the children: “Violence against women is justified, says pupil study.”
MomGrind responds:
Posted: March 9th, 2010 at 1:45 pm →
Lori – from the article – “The majority of the pupils said [violence] was justified if the woman had an affair, or if she was late in making the tea.” Wow. So this was done in Glasgow – I’m curious to know if it’s representative of other western countries, because if it is, then I’m scared.
Diana responds:
Posted: March 9th, 2010 at 1:57 pm →
Lori, thanks for the heads up! I had no idea it was this bad. Like Vered, I hope the results would be different here.
Davina responds:
Posted: March 9th, 2010 at 11:58 pm →
Hi Vered: Some of your readers might argue that your focus on media portrayal of women is wrong. They’re entitled to their opinion, as you are of yours. I think it’s important to stand behind what you believe in. You couldn’t have summed this post up better than with this: “You play like the guys and are labeled as a bitch, play nice and stay behind.”
John W. Zimmer responds:
Posted: March 10th, 2010 at 3:11 pm →
I agree with your view and would like to add that it seems highly localized. For instance the large corporation I work for – women seem to enjoy equaity with men but in many small companies – I still hear of harrasment as the norm (until they get sued I guess).
As far as ones self image being limiting… what I am extrapulating of this post. I think ones own image is absolutly limiting or freeing.