What is the purpose of International Women’s Day?

What is this criticism on a day dedicated to the advancement of women’s rights and the commemoration of its revolutionary roots?

Some comments have focused on the ironies, such as in Russia where IWD gives a boost to the country’s cosmetics industry as Russian men embark on a consumerist frenzy to buy chocolates, flowers and make-up for the women in their lives to show their appreciation [1]. Then there are the various events and celebrations that are held on IWD, where women are prompted to wear purple and green to support the ’cause’ and invariably end up wearing garments and accessories manufactured by exploited women workers in China. Such ironies exist in our every-day lives however, and are not limited to IWD.

Most of this year’s IWD critique has focused on Northern women’s alleged apathy towards their sisters in the global South. This article does not aspire to engage in debates taking place within and about Northern feminisms, however it is important and interesting to note some of the critique of IWD that has emerged amongst a majority of inspiring dialogue and action. These critiques are not aimed at IWD itself, but rather at how the North interprets or misinterprets IWD at the alleged expense of their Southern sisters. Ultimately these critiques raise questions about what the purpose of IWD really is.

The critiques

Zoe Williams from the Guardian UK directs her criticism towards IWD events in the UK and writes:

„Let’s start by running through how different organisations have chosen to mark tomorrow’s International Women’s Day 2007. The Greater London authority had an event last weekend with bike workshops, self-defence classes, some kind of spice-centric cookery display, and a fashion show ... I am not saying that there should be total homogeneity in what we discuss on women’s day. Even though the prominence of female MPs in the Conservative party might seem trivial to the head of an NGO fresh from Sharia-ordered stonings in Nigeria, that does not mean it is not worth highlighting... What is not relevant is fun-packed dancing from around the world, spice workshops and fashion shows... it is an outrage against people who take liberties seriously - who embody the core of feminism by interpreting it as a war that hasn’t been won until it’s been won for all women - to trivialise these matters... Tell stories and dance as much as you will - but not on International Women’s Day. Make your own day of celebrations. Call it Gullible Idiots Unite. Have it in April.“ [2]

Williams’ engages directly with the notion of what IWD ’should’ be about, and yet inserts a disclaimer that IWD should not be homogenous. In doing so she highlights an important reality about IWD - that it is a reflection of our different realities as women, complete with contradictions, loopholes and different priorities. Women around the world interpret IWD in a way that is relevant to them and that’s what makes IWD special to every woman. In a perfect world, IWD would be the day where every woman would take the patriarchal bull by the horns and give it a good shake. In reality, this is simply not the case.

Williams’ article prompted a multitude of blogs in response. For example, one blogger remarked: „I step tentatively into this prickly debate ... could it be that International Womans Day (sic) is, as it says, International Womans Day and not International Feminists Day? Perhaps a woman’s agenda is not automatically feminist, just as a man’s agenda is not automatically phallogocentric capitalist hegemony...“. This blogger highlights once more, the realities of IWD.

To be fair, however, Williams has a point to make, and this issue is a „prickly debate“, being picked up by other commentators in the North. Seradi Peri, writing for the publication of the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, remarked: „ If International Women’s Day is about celebrating and raising awareness, what exactly would you say it is that we’re doing? Does designating a day do anything more than give lip service to an exaggerated sense of progress? After all, there is some irony in the fact that the global gender dichotomy is rarely more pronounced than on IWD. The day sees women in wealthier nations celebrating their achievements in politics and business, while women in poorer countries must raise awareness about the impossible conditions in which many of them live. And, just like we go back to driving SUVs and forgetting to recycle after the sun goes down on Earth Day, many will revert to complacency, helplessness, even compliance, in facing the oppression of women on March 9th.“ [3]

Similarly, Pamela Bone in Australia writes:

„I don’t hold much hope on this International Women’s Day of seeing protests in Australian cities against female genital mutilation; or against honour killings, stonings, child marriages, forced seclusion or any of the other persecutions to which women are still subjected. The fire of Western feminism has quietly died away, first as a victim of its success, lately as a victim of cultural relativism, of anti-Americanism and reluctance to be seen to be condemning the enemies of the enemy.“ [4]

The inspirations

How and whether women in the North will respond to such criticisms is beyond the scope of this short paper. One thing is for certain - that IWD provokes a plethora of emotion and thought from both men and women. Whilst Seradi Peri questions the relevance of allocating „one measly day for women“, Pamela Bone does the same, but also recognises that „change is happening... there are organisations... that work tirelessly for women“. It is this collaboration and passion coming from all corners of the world that makes IWD special.

Events held on IWD illustrate this. On IWD 2007, the UNDP Sudan, in partnership with Development Alternatives Inc. (DAI) and Um Jumma Women’s Charitable Society, brought women and men together from the different ethnic tribes in Darfur for the first time in history. This is worth celebrating.

On the same day, at IWD celebrations at the UN, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, expressed his support for the creation of a new UN agency for women. He said that "such a new body should be able to call on all of the U.N. system’s resources in the work to empower women and realise gender equality worldwide: „I encourage member states to study the possibility of replacing several current structures with one dynamic U.N. entity“ [5]. His support is definitely worth celebrating.

So whilst IWD can sometimes be laden with contradictions and carousing, it is also made from the blood, sweat and tears of those who made an international day for women a reality, and those who continue the struggle for women’s rights today. This is something worth celebrating.