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The Need For International Women's Day

The Need For International Women's Day

Happy International Women’s Day!

For a little over 100 years, people around the world have been gathering together to observe and party, to offer thoughts and recognize the significant contributions and continued needs of women.

That’s right, it has only been that short amount of time. And you’re right again, women should have been celebrated for a lot longer than that!

How did IWD start?

Growing out of the labour movement, the first Women’s Day was observed in 1908 in New York to protest working conditions in the garment industry. As with many movements, it was meant to bring oppressed people up into a better life. From there, it has grown in scope and in recognition across the globe. Women’s rights, though still challenged in many ways in the century since, have grown significantly in the years since. But yes, there’s still a long way to go.

This past year, we’ve seen the rise of the #MeToo movement shine a massive light on a known issue, but one that was given little regard: sexual harassment and assault. As exemplified by the massive outpouring of response, the #MeToo movement has revealed the truly abysmal state of how women are treated. It also shows just how far we need to go towards the idea of equality.

The role of sex in IWD

Sex is a fundamental part of many people’s lives. It can be a casual thing for those who prefer a variety of lovers. Sex can be a marker of commitment to one true partner. It truly comes in countless shades—whatever works for you as long as you are honest and communicative to your partner(s). We often talk about the glory that sex can be in your life and really, I can’t think of a better word.

But when sex is used as a tool of oppression against you, when sex is the means of an attack on your body, then it is not glorious. It is not love. It is not honest. When women are sexually assaulted and harassed, men are attempting to display dominance and control. When women are sexually abused, they are being told that they don’t have the right to communicate in this exchange. And for too long women have just been expected to take all of this. To live with it. To suck it up because the whim of a man obviously overshadows the desires of a woman.

This is our own fault. Many societies around the globe, particularly the colonial powers of Western Europe, spread the idea of patriarchy with such fervor and abandon that marginalized people had no choice but to accept it. The dominating culture was male-driven and it has stayed that way since.

Shine on!

Unless we grow this light, this spark that has emerged with #metoo. It may have been but a wee flicker, but it is growing. Women can make it glow, women can make it a fierce flame! Women can continue to help one another and men can help too. Men can do two things. First, men should call out other men and teach them to listen, learn and change their ways. And when they aren’t promoting change, men can shut the fuck up.

The right to sexual autonomy and pleasure is just one part of the many different reasons we observe International Women’s Day. But making significant changes to sexual inequality will go a long way in helping the others.

About Jon Pressick
Jon Pressick

Jon Pressick is the sex community's international gadabout and Cherry Banana's writer in residence. An award-winning sex writer and blogger, Jon is the editor of the critically-acclaimed Best Sex Writing of the Year, Volume 1. He is a frequent contributor to Cherry Banana with a range of sex-related content and his writing has appeared in numerous magazines and books, as well as all across the Internet. Jon is also a co-host and producer of the long-running sex radio show Sex City. You can keep up with his many sex-related articles here at Cherry Banana or at his own blog, Sex in Words.

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