For as Long as We Need to Be!
It's an issue worth underscoring: for far too long, the media has not covered the meaning behind March 8th. Frankly, it's remarkable that it has finally agreed to call this day by its real name: International Women's (Rights) Day!
This media coverage is clearly the result of the campaigns opposing harassment and violence against women sparked around the world with the #MeToo movement. While the media focus was in large part on the high-profile cases of the first abusers and those who spoke out against them, it's a fact that it still brought attention, a platform (and sometimes even a little cash!) to women and groups that have spoken out against abuse around the world for years. So much the better if the news finally gives us the visibility we deserve and pushes the government and other patriarchal institutions to question their sexist policies and the abuse they inflict or allow to persist. It remains to be seen if this change is anything more than a fleeting and symbolic act of recognition, a little bouquet of flowers to "placate the feminists," or if it is a step towards real social change!
What is notable is that the discourse from women over the last few months wasn't one of victimization that quickly relegates them to silence or even shame, but one of reclaiming the future, of solidarity between women, and the fight for equality, respect and equity. It's also a discourse with updated terminology and means of distribution that favours the engagement of young women and the recognition of diversity.
This message, shared in solidarity, is also remarkable in its resonance among women from Turkey to Iran, from the United States, to Spain or France, from India, to Quebec or Senegal. To paraphrase Benoîte Groult: We will be feminists as long as there is one sole woman discriminated against on Earth...