As women’s day approaches I wanted to write and reflect a little bit on what it means to me. Sometimes I talk to friends and colleagues (who are not necessarily feminists) and they ask me questions like “Why would we want men and women to be equal?” or “Why do women want to be like men?”
Actually, I don’t want to be like any man I know. I don’t want men and women to be exactly the same either. It is our differences that make us interesting as individuals. What I do believe however, is that men and women should be given the same opportunities to be the best they can be; so for example, if there is money enough to send either me or my brother for higher studies, I want to be given the opportunity to qualify too. If there is fish for lunch, as a daughter I should be given the same share as my brother. If my father owns a piece of land, I want equal share in it with my brother. I believe in equality.
National decisions that affect us all are made by members of a parliament. They decide if I should pay an additional 3% as Nation Building Tax when buying clothes for my kids; they decide if we should start another university in Sri Lanka; they decide if young adults should be taught about sex in schools; they decide which laws should stay and which should go and they decide if I am a criminal because I love another woman.
The national parliament has 225 seats. I want women and men to have an equal number of seats and an equal voice.
I somehow know my mother understands me much better than my father; her voice is stronger even though it may not be louder. I want to hear her – and women like her, as strong voices in parliament. I want a woman who knows and understands me to speak about the issues that affect me. I don’t believe a man can do justice to this.
There are 960 million illiterate adults in the world. 640 million are female. Why?
There are 130 million children not enrolled in primary school. 90 million are girls. Why?
Parliamentary seats worldwide: only 11% occupied by women.
In Sri Lanka it is 3%! Why?
Total land in the world: only 10% owned by women. Why?
This is what I question and this is what I believe needs to change. For me this is what Women’s Day is about – its about questioning and changing and equity.
International Women’s Day is on March 8th.
i don’t want to be like a man or like a woman as society defines either of those things. i just wanna be me.
I don’t want to be like a man either. I hope I never become like a ‘man’ in the way men are now! I want rights and opportunities for everyone. And I love being a woman.
happy women’s day ladies. long live feminism!