International Women’s Day (the 100th anniversary, no less) is a bonanza for events, articles, and activities on women’s rights! I love it. What a day and it’s not even 10 a.m.
At 7 a.m. today, it was chilly with a beautiful clear sky when I joined three of my AAUW coworkers and a dozen other early-risers to participate in the Washington, DC, contingency of Women for Women International‘s Meet Me on the Bridge event. While we enjoyed bagels and coffee, we gathered at the base of the Lincoln Memorial to talk about women’s rights. Then we dodged bicyclist commuters to cross the Arlington Memorial Bridge. It was inspiring to be gathered so early and to know we were part of thousands of people all over the world crossing bridges to commemorate women’s rights.
Now that I’m online, my Facebook and Twitter feeds are flooded with International Women’s Day events, articles, and campaigns. It’s fantastic! Here are a few that stood out to me:
- In Egypt, activists are organizing a Million Woman March in Cairo. Input from women on the drafting of Egypt’s constitution is a key demand, as is their call for legislative changes that will guarantee complete gender equality, including an end to street harassment and assault (I wish I were there for it!).
Via CNN.com - One of Stop Street Harassment’s partners, The Pixel Project, just launched The Celebrity Male Role Model Pixel Reveal campaign. It’s is an innovative fundraising initiative that will raise US$1 million for Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO) Malaysia & USA’s National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV).
Today is Feminist Coming Out Day! This project arose out of a frustration with the limited portrayal of the feminist movement as straight, White, and cisgendered when feminists are actually very diverse. So, show you’re a feminist with a “This Is What A Feminist Looks Like” sticker, photo of yourself in the t-shirt, and write a feminist manifesto to an online Feminist Portrait Project. Find this initiative on Facebook.- HollaBack! is commemorating the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day by collecting 100 street harassment stories.
- The Guardian put together an interactive online program where you can hear from women in 15 countries about the changes they’ve witnessed and help to bring about in their countries.
And here are a few of my favorite tweets!
- disasterous007 If you ever walk alone to your car without thinking someone might attack you, this isn’t your day. #internationalwomensday
- The_WhiteWitch I may be an evil tyrant, but I still earn 16% less than Lord Voldemort or Darth Vader. #internationalwomensday
- Textposts To all the women who stood up & fought for freedom, today we salute you for your bravery and courage of conviction. #internationalwomensday
- mountain_goats Because the struggle for equality is everybody’s struggle! #internationalwomensday
- eireaine “Men of quality are not threatened by women of equality” – Thomas Jefferson #internationalwomensday
- EU_Commission #iwd speech by @VivianeRedingEU “Gender is a business issue, not purely a “women’s” issue. Women mean business!” http://bit.ly/gxLsG3
What are you doing for International Women’s Day?
[…] Yesterday I wrote about the planned March with optimism, just as the organizers and participants felt optimism. This morning, reading about what happened makes me feel tired. Tired knowing how much longer Egyptian women – and women all over the world – will have to keep working toward equal rights – including the rights to public spaces free from harassment or assault – in the face of such hateful opposition. […]