International Women’s Day: Collectively we can all #BreakTheBias.

Manveen Kaur

BreakTheBias is the theme of this year’s International Women’s Day on March 8, 2022. A day where we celebrate women’s love, courage, kindness, and contribution to the world. A day where we talk about the abrasive inequality that persists between men and women. The day we feel grateful for the women in our lives and everything they have done for our betterment and the future of the world.

Imagine a gender equal world.

A world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination

A world that is diverse, equitable, and inclusive.

A world where difference is valued and celebrated.

Together we can forge women’s equality.

The earliest Women’s Day observance, called “National Woman’s Day” was held on February 28, 1909, in New York City, organized by the Socialist Party of America at the suggestion of activist Theresa Malkiel. In 1977, the United Nations General Assembly invited member states to proclaim March 8 as an official UN holiday for women’s rights and world peace. It has since been commemorated annually by the UN and much of the world, with each year’s observance centered on a particular theme or issue within women’s rights.

As a woman myself, it feels great to be seen, heard, and celebrated. But this year, I want all of us to think hard and ponder over some very basic questions that have stayed with me for years.

Where did this need to celebrate women’s day come from? Is it because we don’t celebrate them enough? Is it because they still don’t have complete and total body autonomy? Is that why the abortion is illegal in most parts of the world? Is it because rape still isn’t reported as much as it should be and importantly, is it because assault of all kinds still happens to millions and millions of women?

Where is this need for celebrate originating for? Is it out of pure generosity and gratefulness or is it out of guilt?

I whole heartedly support the wins we have had in the past decades. I thank the woman before me for the mountains they climbed for me to have this voice today, but this year the International Women’s Day should go beyond the 8th of March. It should go beyond the love and affection to the women in your life and lead to compassion for all the women out there.

It is officially 2022 and we need to know that this planet, this earth, this world is a shared space built by joint efforts of both men and women so there is no reason why women should still be asking for the respect and equal rights.

#BreakThe Bias is important and so is questioning why bias is there in the first place. That’s how every big movement in social change starts- asking questions, challenging norms, and following through to do so even after the March 8th is gone. #BreakTheBias- every day from this point onwards. Create spaces for the women to be seen, put microphones for the voices to be heard. Do your part and continue doing it until we reach where we can all truly belong.

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