As the world celebrates International Women’s Day with fervor and admiration, it’s imperative to reflect on the stark contrast between this annual tribute and the reality that women face every other day of the year. While March 8 serves as a reminder to honor women’s achievements and advocate for gender equality, it’s crucial to acknowledge the pervasive disrespect, abuse, injustice and violence that women endure daily.
The Dichotomy of Celebration and Disrespect
On International Women’s Day, social media platforms overflow with messages of solidarity, empowerment, and appreciation for women’s contributions. Yet, this celebration often serves as a temporary reprieve from the harsh realities that women encounter in their everyday lives. Beyond the facade of admiration lies a deeply ingrained culture of disrespect, discrimination, and violence against women that persists throughout the year.
To truly honor women’s resilience and achievements, we must confront the root causes of gender-based violence and discrimination. Deeply entrenched patriarchal norms, systemic inequalities, and cultural biases perpetuate a cycle of oppression that undermines women’s rights and safety. It’s not enough to commemorate women on designated days; we must actively dismantle the structures of power that enable gender-based violence and inequality to thrive.
The narrative surrounding women’s rights and gender equality must extend beyond symbolic gestures and tokenistic gestures. True progress requires sustained efforts to challenge harmful attitudes, educate communities, and enact policies that protect and empower women. It’s time to shift the conversation from temporary acknowledgment to meaningful action that ensures women are respected, valued, and treated as equals every day of the year.
Empowering Women: A Collective Responsibility
Creating a world where women are safe, respected, and empowered is a collective responsibility that transcends gender, ethnicity, religion and socio-economic status. Men must actively challenge toxic masculinity and become allies in the fight for gender equality. Governments, organizations, and communities must prioritize the implementation of laws and programs that safeguard women’s rights and provide support to survivors of violence.
Examples of Ongoing Struggles
1.Olympic Protesters Sacrifice Medals for Justice: In a powerful act of solidarity and protest, Olympic medalists from a particular nation, aggrieved by the rampant sexual abuse of women by officials, made a bold statement by tossing their hard-earned medals into the river. Their actions were not a symbol of defeat but a testament to the lengths women are willing to go to demand justice and accountability in the face of systemic abuse and discrimination.
2.Community’s Shameful Display of Misogyny: In a disturbing display of misogyny and communal violence, members of a certain community in a state stripped and paraded two women through the streets, subjecting them to public humiliation. This egregious act serves as a stark reminder of the entrenched patriarchal attitudes and societal norms that perpetuate violence against women and undermine their dignity and rights.
- A Long Quest for Justice: The recent verdict in a notable case, stemming from horrific rapes and murders dating back to a particular year (2002), serves as a bittersweet victory in the quest for justice for survivors of gender-based violence. While the survivor finally received the justice she rightfully deserved, the case underscores the pervasive impunity and long road to accountability that many women face in seeking redress for crimes committed against them.
- Acid Attack: A Grim Reality of Gender-Based Violence: In a chilling reminder of the pervasive threat of gender-based violence, a young girl recently fell victim to an acid attack after rebuffing the advances of a persistent admirer. The heinous act highlights the grave consequences of unchecked misogyny and the urgent need for comprehensive measures to prevent and address such atrocities.
- Influencer’s Ordeal: From Fame to Victimhood: Even women of influence and status are not immune to the scourge of sexual violence and exploitation. An influencer’s harrowing ordeal, where she was subjected to a horrific crime upon her arrival in a foreign land, sheds light on the global epidemic of gender-based violence and the urgent need for concerted action to ensure women’s safety and dignity everywhere.
As the Qur’an says-
O believers! It is not permissible for you to inherit women against their will1 or mistreat them to make them return some of the dowry as a ransom for divorce– unless they are found guilty of adultery. Treat them fairly. If you happen to dislike them, you may hate something which Allah turns into a great blessing. [4:19]
As we commemorate International Women’s Day, let us not forget that the struggle for gender equality is ongoing and requires unwavering commitment from all sectors of society. Beyond the confines of a single day, let’s strive to create a world where every woman can live free from fear, discrimination, and violence. It’s time to translate our words of admiration into concrete actions that honor women’s dignity, agency, and humanity every day of the year. Let’s look even Beyond International Women’s Day.