International Women’s Day

By Amir Dadashov

International Women’s day is coming up. An excellent holiday when all members of our society can celebrate the (often unrecognised but) immensely influential impact women have had on the world. International Women’s day exists everywhere in many forms. The 8th of March (our International Women’s Day) is prevalent in eastern Europe and west-central Asia: where it was popularised during the cold war by the Soviet Union with their bold claims of absolute equality (which, of course, they lied about). Nevertheless, after the fall of the soviet union, it stuck, and in Azerbaijan, as in Russia and Belarus and Georgia, International Women’s day is celebrated on the 8th of March.

International Women’s day is a celebration that needs to be protected. The recognition of Women’s contributions to society and the systemic sexism they have had to endure in the past (and the present, depending on which corner of the world you live in) is a necessity if we, as a society, ever want to reach the far-away prospect of an entirely equal society. It is a nice day when one half of the world gives the other half a day off and a couple of presents, a day when families go out to restaurants and when the streets are decorated with flowers all around. 

There are some, however, who have their reservations. These people (though obviously, they are men, let us not fool ourselves) claim that if we truly want an equal society, then we should abolish international Women’s day or – in some cases – they argue we should establish an international men’s day to go along with it. 

In my very personal opinion, this argument is an inherently flawed argument based on the deep rooted desire of some men to keep things the way they are – because it satisfies them. Because they see no issue with the way, things are. Because they see no injustice, no prejudice. They see nothing wrong with women wearing skirts and men wearing trousers. There is a simple explanation for this. They do not have to wear skirts. They are not pressured to quit their job when they have a child or live with their parents until they get married. They do not suffer from the injustice of sexism because why would they when all males (myself included) have historically only reaped the benefits of gender injustice. They do not get pandered to, they do not get patronised and looked down upon, and they do not have to look over their shoulders when they walk home.

International women’s day does not mean sexism is dead. It means that we can recognise that society has to have an attitude of appreciation towards the work that women do, and it should not be discouraged. More women go to university than men in most of the world, yet the overwhelming majority of the world’s leaders and politicians are men. International women’s day is not a step in the wrong direction, it is a step in the right direction, but it does not go far enough.

To celebrate the day, if you are a girl or a woman, have a break, enjoy the day. If you are a man, give a gift or a favour to a woman you know. In the end, what does it cost to make someone just a little bit happier?