International Women's Day

WetGeek

I happened to hear a news item this morning that said today is International Women's Day. That's the first I've ever heard of it, and I have no idea what kind of celebrations are appropriate for IWD.

I'll go on record, however, and point out that I'm very much in favor of International Women.

kyrios

In French it is called the international women's rights day. The aim is to put the light on gender equality, women's empowerment, etc.

The fact that you never heard about it demonstrates that the patriarchal ideology of our modern societies is still very dominant and that the road towards equality is still long!

WetGeek

kyrios In French it is called the international women's rights day.

it's probably called that in English as well, and the radio announcer just messed it up. Indeed, I've heard of International Women's Rights Day before. I'm very much in favor of women's rights, too. (My wife wouldn't have it any other way.)

kyrios

In most languages it is called the International Women's Day but in a few languages the official UN name is translated into International Women's Rights Day.

This little additional word is very important especially since - I am ashamed to say it - Human Rights isn't translated into "Droits humains" as it should be but it is translated into "Droits de l'Homme" which litterally means "men's rights" with the subtility that Homme with a capital H come from Homo (like in Homosapiens) which designates a specie and not a man (lowercase h).

This shows the mentality of the men in power at that time.

I'd like to tell it is the past but sexism is still strong and present in our culture.

Staudey

kyrios I'd like to tell it is the past but sexism is still strong and present in our culture.

Yeah. Every time I am under the delusion that sexism has mostly disappeared, I just have to talk to some of my female friends about what they have experienced at work and in public/private (discrimination, harassment, etc.) to dispel those delusions in a few minutes.

tomscharbach

Staudey Yeah. Every time I am under the delusion that sexism has mostly disappeared, I just have to talk to some of my female friends about what they have experienced at work and in public/private (discrimination, harassment, etc.) to dispel those delusions in a few minutes.

Absolutely. As a close friend told me a few years ago about workplace harrassment, "Every woman has a story to tell ..."

DataDrake

Staudey For real. I was already sensitive to it because most of my close friends over the years have been women. But it has been even more in my face these days because of coming out.