The good, the bad and the ugly of Women’s Day
This day is a positive tribute to gender equality and women’s rights. 9 August 1956 marks the day that about 20,000 women marched to the Union Buildings in Pretoria to protest legislation that gave the government control over the movement of black women in urban areas by amalgamating the hated Pass Laws into one Act which would extend its power to include the restriction of the movement of black women in designated white areas.
This was a way to control women and make sure that they understood their submissive place in South African society.
Women’s Month is also a tribute to all women through history that stood up for equality. Charlotte Maxeke was a central figure in establishing the ANC Women’s League. She fought and encouraged women to fight for their freedom. She wanted every woman to know that they had the right to stand for what they believed in.
These were times of struggle but are seen today as a positive intervention of warrior women and pioneers that had the guts to stand together in a male dominant world. We salute you, our Mothers and Sisters – without you we would still wear the chains of the past, you showed us the way forward, you showed us that we are of value.
Flipside
Through the years here was a few controversial stories related to women’s day all over the world.
Women’s Day was recently re-introduced in Czechoslovakia. In 2008 the People’s Party asked for the abolition of the celebration as it was seen as a symbol of the Soviet Communist Regime, but several NGOs fought for this holiday to remain on the calendar as a recognition of women’s role in society.
This important celebration also sparked violence in Tehran in 2007 when the police beat-up non-political women that took part in organising Women’s Day. They were arrested and interrogated and placed in solitary confinement. They were only released after a hunger strike of 15 days. These women were robbed of there rights to have a voice but showed character and perseverance for the sake of future generations.
In March 2015 five Chinese feminists were arrested for planning to protest sexual harassment on National Women’s Day. They were detained on the ground of picking quarrels and creating disturbance. This incident sent shockwaves and anger into the world regarding a woman’s right to speak up. The USA, UK, EU and the UN called for an immediate release of the women, but typical of China at that time, their request was rejected.
In August 2015, BIC Pen was responsible for an outrage on social media after posting an advertisement for National Women’s Day in South Africa. It read “look like a girl, act like a lady, think like a man, work like a boss” #HappyWomensDay. BIC apologized and assured the public that they meant it in the most empowering way.
Hopefully this chauvinistic stupidity is finally over. Let’s move forward!