What international women's day means to me

The funniest thing I've read about this so far is if you say #InternationalWomensDay 3 times in the mirror, a guy in a Superdry t-shirt will appear behind you and ask when International Men's Day is. Well boys, today is not about you, it's about celebrating all of womankind and the amazing things that we achieve. Last year, I wrote all about the women, past and present, who inspire me (which you can read here), but this year, I thought I'd write a little feminism post about what today means to me.

It means that women deserve equal rights

I would like to hope that this goes without saying but in many countries (and also right here at home), it sadly doesn't. Women deserve to be able to live their lives without being forced into underage marriages, without suffering abuse at the hands of their husbands or fathers and without fear of being raped and sexually assaulted every time they leave the house. Even down to the smaller stuff, like how they deserve to be able to go to a club and stand at the bar, without a guy's hands snaking all over them. The subject of rape and sexual assault is one I'm keen to cover in a separate blog post (because there's a LOT to be said), so I'll leave it at that for now (but stay tuned).

It means that women should be free to choose their own path

Feminism can be split down the middle the way I see it; some people believe that feminism is about getting women into powerful, high-flying jobs that they previously didn't have the opportunity for; some people believe that feminism is about getting women to do whatever the hell they want. I fall into the latter category. Shaming a woman for wanting nothing more than to be a doting housewife and mum, is just as bad as forcing a woman into that lifestyle when she wants something else. There's nothing wrong with actually wanting what was previously forced on us, and I believe that every woman deserves freedom and respect for the path she chooses, be it that of a computer programmer or a sex worker.

It means that women should be celebrated

Feminism bears a lot of negative connotations, mainly because of people who champion name changes to tissue boxes and other stupid things like that. But feminism at its heart is about celebrating women; their achievements, their beauty, their opinions. On today of all days, it's about celebrating the female half of the population and every amazing thing that we have to offer.

It means that women need to be seen as people in their own right

You read it a lot in magazines and in the news. When a woman dies, she is referred to as a mother, a daughter, a wife. If a female celebrity has kids, she is referred to as being out with 'fellow celebrity mums'. When a woman in a TV show has children, audiences often question where that child is if they're not in the scene. Considering these observations never seem to be made of men, it makes you realise that it's time to stop seeing women as "someone's". Someone's mum, someone's daughter, someone's sister. Women are not someone's, they are someone. And they deserved to be viewed that way in their own right.

It means that women deserve to be respected

Again, you would think this goes without saying but sadly, it often doesn't. Not in an out-and-out "I don't respect women" kind of way, but in the kind of way where men are happy to talk over you in a business meeting, but don't do the same to the other men in the room. Where they're nice to women who they find attractive, but not so much to women who they don't. Where they see women as objects; complimenting them on their body but not understanding that they're more than that. Respect for women is in the small things; the devil is in the details, as they say.

It means realising that women can be more than one thing

I feel like women get pigeon-holed quite a lot, which I hate (especially as someone who has so many different sides to their personality). Women can be into makeup and get every bit of plastic surgery under the sun, but still have an opinion on politics. Women can work as strippers or prostitutes and still be really good at finances. I often find that people make assumptions of me based on the fact I wear makeup every day, I wear heels every day and I always put care into how I dress. But that doesn't mean that fashion is the only thing my brain has room for; I also like reading, I'm very intelligent, I'm good at navigating my way around new cities and I'm very good at my job. Of course, stereotypes form because the people that fit them do exist, but it's important not to make snap judgements about what a woman can or can't do based on first impressions.

It means empowering each other

There are just as many women on this planet as there are men (give or take a few) and so men don't have enough power on their own to keep us down. So if women still aren't getting the recognition, appreciation and freedom they deserve, then it's because other women are on the opposing side. It's our job as females to support each other, encourage each other and love each other. I firmly believe that it starts with us and in order for girls to run the world, we need to start empowering each other to do so. 

To the women who raised me, the women who support me, the women who have taught me things along the way, the women who make me laugh until I cry, the women who I turn to in a crisis, the women I can always rely on for advice, and the women who make nights out 10 times more fun. Happy international women's day to me, to you and to all women - we're doing amazing sweeties.