March 8 is International Women’s Day. It can be a day where we celebrate women like Amelia Earhart, the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean, breaking the stereotypes of her time that flying was for men. We could celebrate the achievements of Virginia native, Maggie Walker, the first female (and African-American female) bank president or Golda Meir, the second female Prime Minister in the world. Instead, women on the left are organizing, “A Day Without a Woman.” These brave heroines are taking paid leave from their jobs to send a shattering signal that women matter. Wait….What?
Yes, these brave women are organizing themselves and calling for women to not report to work. Well, that’s a fine idea. Women letting down other women. Female Gynecologists? Out for the day. No women’s care on March 8 for women having a baby. Female caretakers? No caretaking for loved ones whether it be the very young, or the elderly. Female police officers? Just don’t show up. Who needs females searching females? Let the guys do it. Female attorneys? No court today Your Honor. Come on now, we are women letting down other women and we are better than that. What would Amelia, Maggie, and Golda think of us now? Brave women, shattering oppression and stereotypes by not showing up to work.
What we really need to discuss on International Women’s Day are human rights issues such as domestic violence, or the genital mutilation of young girls. We can talk about rampant rapes that occur in some cultures that defile women. We can talk about how to protect our communities from the danger of sex trafficking. We can face the reality that abortion hurts women and silences women in the womb. These are issues facing women around the world. These are issues that women in American can be taking on to advocate for change.
So, let’s stop the political stunts and really make difference. Let’s make International Women’s Day matter. Get up and go to work. Show up in your community. Be relevant. Call your legislators and ask them what they are doing about rising taxes and increased regulations that limit small business ownership by women. Call them and ask them about what they are doing to protect women who cannot speak for themselves. Talk to your friends and neighbors about female oppression around the globe. Educate yourself about the statistics and the political atmosphere surrounding these issues.
There can be no, “A Day Without A Woman,” in my home or in my community. My family and community need me. Your family and community need you. Our businesses need you. The world needs women and it needs women who aren’t playing political games to get noticed. It needs strong women, with strong ideas who will work to protect the vulnerable, fight for a level playing field, and to be the next, “First woman to…”
