International Women's Day, which has its origins in a national commemoration organized by American suffragettes at the start of the 20th century, is being marked today all around the world. The focus of celebrations ranges from a general commemoration of respect and love for women to celebrating their economic, political and societal achievements. This day, which began as a socialist political statement, caught on especially in eastern Europe after it was declared to be a communist holiday in the USSR. In many places around the world, this day has even turned into an opportunity for men to express their love for women, akin to some sort of mix between Mother's Day and Valentine's Day.
When this day was first marked in the U.S. in 1909, it symbolized the righteous struggle of women's suffrage as well as their right to be elected and serve in public office. Today, unfortunately, this day has become a superficial holiday for beauty and cosmetics. Workplaces let their female employees off and send them to spas and for beauty care; newspapers and television are filled with perfume, clothing, toiletries and jewelry sales "especially for you"; and articles on the internet recommend trying "10 ways to feel like a woman." Is this what the pioneering women activists meant when they lifted the flag of their struggle for the right over their own bodies to choose to prevent pregnancy or the right to express their opinions in public?
In recent years, doubts over the necessity of Women's Day have come up not only in male-dominated forums but also among women – both those who self-identify as feminists and those who do not. Many claim that this superfluous day's time has passed. International Women's Day now is no longer a day of women's empowerment for many, but instead a day that implies women's love for beauty and self-care is the most important thing for women. This shallow image does a great injustice to women instead of helping them advance.
Today in 2018, women are strong, successful and on target. And while there are many fields in which women need more guidance, support and proper tools to cope, we are on our way there. In politics, women are underrepresented nationally and even less so locally. Women are underrepresented on executive boards of publicly traded companies. This is true also of high-tech and engineering, although efforts to empower young female professionals have advanced many into worthy, high-paying positions. It is here that an additional push is needed, and not in superficial celebration and other local benefits that hand women fish instead of fishing rods.
Just as in the 1990s, when Mother's Day became Family Day from an understanding of how important two parents are for the family unit and that the role of women is more than just to be mothers, the time has come for women's day in its current incarnation to change and strive for the original purpose it was intended for: a day to promote true equal opportunity, for women and men together everywhere, without any discrimination.
The time is ripe to stop playing the victim, alleging persecution and demanding reparations that are little more than a Band-Aid. The time is ripe to have another dialogue, one in which women and men together strive for equal opportunity in all fields: employment, family, parenthood, education, public and political works, military, business and commerce.
Today we must teach our children the long way women have come since the first Women's Day was celebrated 109 years ago, for it all begins by educating the youth. We must teach them, the generation of tomorrow, to continue striving to fix and improve and reaffirm that it is in their power to bring about true change.
