Why I Don't Want To Be Wished For Women's Day?

Yesterday had to be a regular day. Waking up with a tinge of anxiety, dragging myself through the daily activities and rushing for work. However, it was International Women's Day. I woke up to my social media accounts flooded with Women's Day wishes. Some casually slipped in 'Happy Women's Day' texts, some wrote poetries on how women are important and others shared offers and discounts available especially for me. But did these wishes make my day any better? Did they remove my regular anxieties? Did they make me feel wanted? Ahhh..NO. 

Every Women's Day, women in our society are expected to feel happy. Suddenly people who gaslight women on a regular basis started sharing posts on what each letter in the word WOMAN means. People who don't even pick up their plates after eating or serve their own meals suddenly start talking about how women have to work even after coming back from work. People who consider women nothing more than a body to be desired slip in 'Happy Women's Day' texts to appear a 'caring feminists'. Above all this is the marketing strategies that would target women through discounts as if women couldn't afford things without their support. 

Wasn't Women's Day supposed to be a day for women? Then why are others defining how women should celebrate it or feel on that day? 

Women's Day doesn't change the issues women are facing every day

By just putting up posts on the importance of women on a single day won't change how women are treated every day. It is not that Women's Day makes the streets less safe, kitchens less overwhelming or relationships less toxic. We are still waking up to women struggling with the clutches of patriarchy. If you really want to be a harbinger of change, value women every day. Strike conversations about women's empowerment (without sexist jokes) to be heard and not to just appear cool. Practice what you say on the social media. Buy pads, provide care and stop mansplaining if you really want to be a feminist partner. 

Before you judge me for being a grumpy feminist, let me tell you that I have no problem with celebrating Women's Day. It has a history and significance so it is celebrated globally. I am up for Men's Day, Mother's Day, Father's Day, Siblings Day or Partner's Day (does that exist?). But all I want to say is don't restrict the lessons learnt on these days to a single day. A woman doesn't stop being valuable after Women's Day. We celebrate these days every year to recognise that despite all the challenges that a person has gone through the entire year, they are worthy to be celebrated. These days should help us push the boundaries of our acceptance, thoughts and expectations related to a particular person. Each year, we should find new reasons to celebrate that person. 

Be the change

So rather than blindly forwarding social media posts created months or years ago, look up from your phone and see the person you are celebrating. Do they feel happy? If not, what could be the reason? Be the change you are advocating. Be a feminist, don't fake it. 

Views expressed are the author's own.