Why is International Women’s Day celebrated?
It is a day celebrating women’s social, economic, and political achievements, for which women had to revolt in the 18th and 19th centuries. The focus is on gender equality and awareness of the following women’s rights:
· reproductive rights (my body, my decision),
· right to opinion and expression
· right to safety; stop violence and abuse
· right to equal opportunities,
· right to equal pay,
· representation in various fields,
In summation: agency, autonomy, and the right to choose.
According to the United Nations, this day marks a call to action to accelerate progress toward achieving gender parity.
Every Women’s Day, we are inundated with a deluge of patronizing ‘happy Women’s Day’ messages flooding the social media, glorifying the ‘Indian woman’. Most of them, colored pink, have acronyms and poems on women, painting a rosy picture (quite literally with red hearts and flowers).
Are these posters celebrating women?
Ironically, during the Women’s Day celebrations, there have been back-to-back incidents attacking women. A girl was harassed during holi festival and another girl in UP was raped.
So are women’s day celebrations with their messaging conveying what is needed to be conveyed? Or are we, through these pink posters with their messaging, pushing women further into disparity? Are we raising awareness about discrimination against women and their rights and promoting global support for women in the right way?
Basic appearance of the posters and what is wrong with them
Women are objectified with the so-called “feminine frame"—finely chiseled features, long flowing hair, and a body that screams of the conventional beauty standards that we are trying to get rid of. There is an over emphasis on the color pink with flowers, butterflies, and sequins. Pink for girls became prominent as society imposed it as the “girly” color. The clothing industry markets it widely and makes a lot of money. If you are a girl, you have to like pink!! No choice there! So, on Women’s Day, we are promoting problematic gender norms and conformity via color and objects. Even the posters that signify liberation, for example, solo trips, all-woman trips, etc., are in pink!
Let us evaluate….
Extracted below a few of the most common messages on those posters:
No relation is complete without a woman in this world. She plays the role of ‘loving mom’..’caring sister..’an understanding wife’ & ‘lovable daughter’. You have everything in you that is why the world is celebrating you.
Women are the wheel of family, Ocean of knowledge, Mirror of children, Address of love, Navigator of life boat.
Our world would mean nothing if there were no women in it. Their courage, tenderness and ability to move through life while conquering challenges amazes every day.
No matter if it takes a while, you handle every responsibility with a smile.
She has many roles to play — Mother, sister, wife, friend and more.
Women weren’t created to do everything a man can do. Women were created to do everything a man can’t do
W — wonderful wife, O-Outstanding friend, M-Marvelous daughter, A- Adorable sister, N- nurturing mother
She is the symbol of love, pillar of strength, an example of sacrifice, one who guides you, stands behind you, she is the one without whom you cannot imagine your life…she is the woman in your life!
The quintessential Indian goddess with several hands, each hand holding a baby, laptop, mop, spatula & weights.
Why are these a problem?
These reinforce stereotypes about women -
These messages continue to bracket women into the stereotypes, cementing women into the domestic role.
Glorification as a carrot to compensate for no real power?-
Glorify her role as primary caregiver, convincing her that no matter how educated, talented, and aspirational she is, her priority is homemaking and family. As a result, many have been forced out of paid labor. How is it right to expect a woman to give up on a career in the field she studied hard for? She might be more qualified & talented than the man, yet she is the chosen one! It is a proven fact that countries that have less women labor force participation are not economically sound. Labor participation by the “working demography” of a country, irrespective of gender, is necessary for a country to thrive. At the same time, maintaining a robust family structure is also equally important to a society. Raising the upcoming generation into responsible, aware citizens is the responsibility of the father and the mother. Equality and fairness can be achieved via a cultural & social change in public policy. There has to be a paradigm shift in the culture, civil society, government, and businesses.
Only valued as a mother, daughter, sister, wife, etc._
Her identity is restricted to the relationships she has—those of a loving mother, caring sister, and affectionate daughter. Her individuality does not matter.
Glorified as a sacrificial epitome & glorifying those ‘feminine’ qualities, which means anything else is taboo—
She is being told that she is sensitive and tender and is the one who teaches men what sharing and caring is all about. No wonder, even in the 21st century, women are still underrepresented in sports, politics, the police force, etc.
Shabhash Mithu, one of the recent Hindi movies on the Indian cricket female captain Mithali Raj, had a scene where a friend of Mithila Raj who showed interest in playing cricket and other games categorized as "male-oriented games” is enrolled forcefully in a ‘dance class’, a feminine activity supposedly identified by society. Thus stifling the interest, talent, and aspirations of women who want to take up sports!
The unwanted, forced upon burden of being 'a'superwoman'—
Celebrating women as a multi-tasker who works outside as well as manages household duties and caregiving. What better day than women’s day to tell women that they are the epitome of the Indian goddess with several hands, which in turn stresses her and forces her out of paid labor as, according to society, housework is her job, which she cannot quit from.
It is indeed a trap, a trap in the garb of glorified pictures, colors, and poetic messages. A deep psychological trope restricting women from spreading their wings! Generations of patriarchy and sexist thinking make her think that nothing is wrong with the messaging as she simply passes around these messages, or perhaps the women all over have probably given up on the world.
Some women believe they don’t need external validation and that self-worth is enough, making Women’s Day unnecessary. While women have broken barriers in all fields, true progress means removing obstacles entirely. Women deserve personal autonomy and the right to choose. So yes, Women’s Day is needed—but with the right message.
"Misogynistic disinformation and misinformation flourish on social media platforms,” an apt statement made by UN Secretary-General to the women’s commission ahead of Women’s Day. Indeed, the underlying messages in these posters accentuate inequality in a glorified way.
“Gender equality is growing more distant. On the current track, UN Women puts it 300 years away." As quoted by UN Secretary-General.
We can’t take that long. We need to achieve it fast. To start with, we need to do away with these stereotypical pink posters and their messaging!!
Previously published in women's web publications
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