{"id":22450,"date":"2022-03-23T09:56:07","date_gmt":"2022-03-23T16:56:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.nexusnewspaper.com\/?p=22450"},"modified":"2022-03-30T08:51:56","modified_gmt":"2022-03-30T15:51:56","slug":"22450","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nexusnewspaper.com\/newsite\/2022\/03\/23\/22450\/","title":{"rendered":"International Women\u2019s Day is a start: what\u2019s next? Thoughts from five Camosun College students"},"content":{"rendered":"

International Women\u2019s Day, an ongoing journey – Jacqueline Sperber, staff writer<\/strong><\/p>\n

You\u2019ve heard a lot of stories from me the past year in Let\u2019s Talk 2.0<\/i> about how females need to rise out of their own shadows and embrace the achievements we\u2019ve had so far.<\/p>\n

So far so good: there is one day dedicated to everyone who identifies as a woman.<\/p>\n

I already see rolling eyes and hear the cries of, \u201cWhy do you need a day? Do men get a day?\u201d This is the wrong way to look at it.<\/p>\n

Gender equality is an everyday topic, because we get biased early on about what our roles in society should be. It\u2019s only slowly that we progress, stepping away from these boxes and actually let people of all genders decide what and who they want to be.<\/p>\n

International Women\u2019s Day is exactly for that.<\/p>\n

You would think by now we\u2019re at a point where society doesn\u2019t need to talk about it anymore, but, in fact, this is just the starting point where we actually have the opportunity to achieve all the things we want to, step by step. From girls in tech to women in sports, we need more than one day to acknowledge the achievements women have done for society.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

And by that I don\u2019t mean raising children, as this is still part of our bias. However, that\u2019s changing slowly and I see a lot of awesome males enjoying raising their children while the mom earns the living and enjoys a fair sharing of day-to-day duties.<\/p>\n

That said, there are still a lot of issues going on, like in medicine, for example. Historically, most research has been done excluding women from clinical trials. This is a huge issue when we look at how different our bodies are constructed and how different actual illness signs can be.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Signs for a stroke in a female, for example, look quite different to signs a male would have. Some of us are familiar with the signs of a stroke… in a male. Do you know the signs of a female having a stroke? Well, don\u2019t worry\u2014you\u2019re not the only one who doesn\u2019t.<\/p>\n

Education needs to focus on both directions\u2014we need to create a more solution-focused way of thinking rather than just thinking about patching a problem.<\/p>\n

Another subject I want to give my thoughts on is empowerment. Often girls are quiet and get taught to just stand by silently. We need to start empowering the next generation, and empowering ourselves. I believe by practicing this daily at least once, we not only create deeper connections to others and ourselves, but we also help society to make a shift toward gender equality.<\/p>\n

So are we there yet? No. But is it important? Yes. And I\u2019m very positive that celebrating each day a little tiny bit of how far we have come will get us there in the long run.<\/p>\n

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These stories originally appeared in our March 23, 2022 issue.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The patriarchy pandemic – Prajakta Jagtap, contributing writer<\/strong><\/p>\n

Celebrating women and our achievements and empowering us sounds great. But why do we get a day, a week, and a month dedicated to it? I don\u2019t know why we\u2019re still not equal.<\/p>\n

Patriarchy is like a pandemic\u2014it\u2019s been like this forever. From the beginning of recorded history, women have been behind the scenes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Many extraordinary women made sacrifices and shared their genius for the sake of humanity hundreds of years ago. We\u2019ve been fighting the pandemic of patriarchy for hundreds of years. Why? For the sake of equality.<\/p>\n

Women have created a vaccine against the pandemic of patriarchy: it is equality. Women always wanted equality and we still do.<\/p>\n

Women don\u2019t need any special privileges. When we ask for equal seats in parliament, it means equality. We\u2019re asking for equal pay\u2014it\u2019s equality. We\u2019re asking for women to support everyone equally\u2014it\u2019s equality. We\u2019re asking men to support everyone equally\u2014it\u2019s equality. When we are asking everyone to respect everyone, it\u2019s equality.<\/p>\n

Women who support women do not have hatred against any gender, because a woman stands for equality.<\/p>\n

Many claim the pandemic is over in developed countries, that women are equal in those countries. However, while it might look like that, it\u2019s not. The majority of the patriarchal pandemic is happening across poor, developing, and underdeveloped economies. The developed and rich world still has some cases, too.<\/p>\n

Women in countries like Afghanistan live as second-class citizens or are non-existent; women in rural India are not allowed to marry or seek their education according to their will. The child-bride system still exists in many parts of the world. Everyone is suffering from this imbalance. Literally the entire Earth is suffering from this imbalance.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Right now, in March 2022, so many years after the first few women started to stand up for their rights, why do I still have to worry about why women in certain parts of the world are seen as a second-class citizen with no rights?<\/p>\n

I bet when women in the future look back at International Women\u2019s Day, their hearts will break. After all women have done, someone\u2019s ego, insecurity, and hypocrisy still made it difficult for women to be equal, for women to be able to get rid of the patriarchy pandemic.<\/p>\n

So, did all the women in history do great things only in March? As far as I know, they did great things all year long.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s do something for the countries with the most severe patriarchies. I am a woman, I am emotional and sensitive, just like other humans. Women don\u2019t want to think that we are superior over all other genders; we will never think that way. All we care about is equality.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s time to move toward hood feminism – Zoe Mathers, contributing writer<\/strong><\/p>\n

Now that International Women\u2019s Day has passed, I encourage you to reflect on how far society has progressed regarding feminism and to appreciate the accomplishments of women worldwide. But I also encourage you to notice who is still being neglected by the feminist movement.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The feminist movement, which to the naked eye appears inclusive, was created to shine a light on all women, who were constantly diminished and disrespected by the rest of society. However, despite equality becoming more embraced worldwide, even by people who do not identify as female, the feminist movement still has a lot of work to do.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Mikki Kendall\u2019s book Hood Feminism<\/i> is an inspiring look at how we need to change who the feminist movement benefits. I highly recommend this excellent book; it can coach society through implementing hood feminism\u2014a movement that fights for the equality of all women, regardless of race, sexuality, or class\u2014and steering away from the current privileged and elitist representation of feminism.<\/p>\n

In her book, Kendall dives into how the feminist movement supposedly draws strength from women, yet it excludes minority women and women suffering from worldwide issues like homelessness, lack of education, and so much more.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

To reach this equality, it\u2019s essential to notice oppressing actions. Kendall says that \u201c[W]hite women can oppress women of color, straight women can oppress lesbian women, cis women can oppress trans women, and so on.\u201d<\/p>\n

Social media has made it easy to hop on the feminist movement without being intentional about it. We can like, share, and save posts without thinking about their meaning and purpose. Feminism has quickly become a social media trend rather than an impactful physical movement.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s no contract of commitment when it comes to calling yourself a \u201cfeminist.\u201d All you need to do is add #feminism to your post\u2019s caption.<\/p>\n

While spreading awareness of feminism with posts and hashtags has plenty of benefits, we cannot reap those benefits without inspecting the current state of the word \u201cfeminism.\u201d<\/p>\n

Feminism should mean the unification of all women, regardless of their race, sexuality, and background.<\/p>\n

Feminism shouldn\u2019t exclude anyone. Instead, it should encourage everyone to walk hand in hand.<\/p>\n

Yet, somehow, the feminist movement neglects both of those things.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Kendall explains that \u201cAll too often, however, the focus is not on basic survival for the many, but on increasing privilege for the few.\u201d<\/p>\n

Those who benefit from the current state of the feminist movement are the ones who, generally, do not need the extra support this movement can provide. They are the women who are already uplifted and cherished by society. And this is only one type of woman.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s why, moving ahead after International Women\u2019s Day, we need to focus on swapping our current depiction of feminism with Kendall\u2019s hood feminism.<\/p>\n

We need to ask ourselves how we can create support for minority groups of women and create a platform that does not only uplift people of one race, sexuality, background, or status.<\/p>\n

A word from the Camosun College Student Society Women\u2019s Collective – Afaf Burrow, Camosun College Student Society women’s director<\/strong><\/p>\n

One person can start a flame, but it takes a team to ignite a fire. International Women\u2019s Day is a time to reflect and acknowledge all the influential and inspiring women and their right to live freely. However, although this is important, it should only be a catalyst for people to think critically about women\u2019s rights and issues.<\/p>\n

Firstly, we must approach difficult matters in an intersectional feminist lens where all self-identified women are included in the picture. Women come in diverse shapes and sizes, so it is essential to include women of all different backgrounds and stories.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s also necessary to acknowledge the gender discrimination that can present itself in workplaces. Discrimination against women can come in many different forms, so take a stand when a situation does not feel right. Gender equality is often misunderstood as only focusing on women, yet it refers to gender equality across the board. Anyone can be involved in the discussion to seek knowledge and understanding.<\/p>\n

Secondly, recognize your internal biases and perceptions toward women and actively work to unlearn problematic thinking. Acknowledge misogynistic and patriarchal systems that exist, and work to dismantle them through continuous education and awareness. This opens up the door of social-advocacy promotion. Be vocal if there is gender inequality occurring around you. Act as a support to self-identified women by listening to their experiences.<\/p>\n

Thirdly, make your money join the fight by shopping with a purpose. You can support women\u2019s rights by donating to a charitable cause, which can make a good impact. To make a difference in the struggle for gender equality and women\u2019s rights, consider promoting small women-owned businesses.<\/p>\n

Lastly, sign petitions and\/or attend peaceful events to increase accountability. Women\u2019s marches and protests have made significant progress in gaining support for suffrage in the past. Demonstrations in public places are an excellent way to demand action on women\u2019s rights and draw attention to the subject. Bring some friends to help spread the news about global injustices affecting women. Volunteering with a women\u2019s rights organization is the perfect opportunity to learn more about gender-equality movements and make a valuable contribution to team-building and communications work.<\/p>\n

The Camosun College Women\u2019s Collective offer volunteer opportunities and membership. If you\u2019re interested in learning more about the collective, contact me at womens@camosunstudent.org.<\/p>\n

Like yarn being woven into a blanket, we can help knit our own sense of security. We can be the blanket over each other\u2019s shoulders. It starts off as a simple thread and progresses, from simply offering a smile to volunteering. You can help spark light in the world and make positive change.<\/p>\n

What else needs to be done for women – Nya Elliott, contributing writer<\/strong><\/p>\n

March 8 was International Women\u2019s Day. This day represents equality for women and challenges the biases that oppress and hold women back. International Women\u2019s Day does a great job at spreading empowerment to women around the world. Taking this day to celebrate the women in our lives is important, but is this a big enough step in the right direction? How much change is International Women\u2019s Day creating? What else can be done for women?<\/p>\n

I know many women would rather be paid wages equal to what men make rather than have a day devoted to them. Women want reproductive rights, more than one day of the year, for themselves. Women want to safely walk alone down the streets, all year long. Women want to be taken seriously in workplace environments, not to be sexually harassed wherever they go. Women want to see themselves in powerful positions. How is International Women\u2019s Day going to get us there?<\/p>\n

March 8 is good at advocating for the feminist movement. But we can\u2019t kid ourselves into thinking that women don\u2019t face different struggles daily.<\/p>\n

Performative feminism is the trend of posting feminist content on social media just to improve one\u2019s image. Performative activism is a big problem for many movements and women\u2019s rights are no exception. I\u2019m not going so far as to say that International Women\u2019s Day is just one big act of performative activism. But this day can result in a lot of figures doing minimum work into actually supporting the feminist cause.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

To really see the change in our society we have to be proactive in correcting sexist issues. That means addressing and speaking out against issues women face when we see them. It also means going out of our way to uncover these issues and correct them before they get worse.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

To move ahead after International Women\u2019s Day, here are some things you can commit to do to support women year-round. You can acknowledge the inspiring work the women around you do. Support women-owned businesses and women-focused charities. Advocate for women\u2019s equality and gender parity by sharing awareness. Speak out against sexist comments wherever you are and continue to educate yourself on the topic.<\/p>\n

We need women supporting women as well as men supporting women. It\u2019s going to take more than just those being targeted fighting for their equal rights.<\/p>\n

We all live under this dark cloud called the patriarchy and it will take all of us working together to overthrow it.<\/p>\n

Although I do believe International Women\u2019s Day is an amazing start to a future where women all over the world are treated equally to men, there is still so much that needs to be done for women continuously throughout the year.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

International Women\u2019s Day, an ongoing journey – Jacqueline Sperber, staff writer You\u2019ve heard a lot of stories from me the past year in Let\u2019s Talk 2.0 about how females need to rise out of their own shadows and embrace the achievements we\u2019ve had so far. So far so good: there is one day dedicated to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":22443,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-22450","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","category-features"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nexusnewspaper.com\/newsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22450","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nexusnewspaper.com\/newsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nexusnewspaper.com\/newsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nexusnewspaper.com\/newsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nexusnewspaper.com\/newsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=22450"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.nexusnewspaper.com\/newsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22450\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":22452,"href":"https:\/\/www.nexusnewspaper.com\/newsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22450\/revisions\/22452"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nexusnewspaper.com\/newsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/22443"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nexusnewspaper.com\/newsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22450"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nexusnewspaper.com\/newsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22450"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nexusnewspaper.com\/newsite\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=22450"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}