On International Women’s Day

Today is International Women’s Day and I want to give a shout-out to all the amazing women that I am lucky to know and call my family + friends.

I am not really a self-described feminist, which merely is to say I don’t throw around the label a lot, but I do believe in the power and strength of women. I can only imagine what our country would look like if we had elected our first female president (something that is not so earth (or should I say ‘ceiling’-) shattering in other countries, I would like to remind you), but let’s not go there right now.

Contrary to popular belief, feminists are not man-haters. Feminists simply believe in the theory of the political, economic, and social equality of the sexes. The belief that men and women should have equal rights and opportunities.

I am currently reading ‘Shrill: Notes from a loud woman’ by Lindy West and it has – unsurprisingly – much to do with feminism, a woman’s place in this world, and how women are still perceived as ‘less’ in so many contexts.  Less accepted, less knowledgeable, less experienced, less believable, less valuable. Why is it still such a hard concept to accept women as equals?

Today is for celebrating the strong women who face insurmountable odds and who nevertheless persist, and for recognizing what women (have) accomplish(ed). Let’s face it, our societies, where power and privilege is still so often claimed by men, would totally crumble without women (and all they do without calling attention to it every. single. minute. of. every. day.).

Are you wearing red today in solidarity? (I realized, I don’t own very many red items of clothing, but man do I love those sneakers.)  #womensrightsarehumanrights #neverthelessshespersisted

  1. I love Aziz Ansari’s comments about being a feminist. He said, “If you look up feminist in the dictionary, it just means someone who believes men and women should have equal rights. You are a feminist if you believe men and women should have equal rights. You have to say (you are a feminist) because that’s how words work. You can’t be like,

    “Oh yeah, I’m a doctor that primarily does diseases of the skin’
    Oh so you’re a dermatologist?
    ‘Oh no, that’s way too aggressive of a word! No no not at all!’

    I somehow missed the message about wearing red yesterday… Maybe because I am not on social media right now? So I didn’t wear red, but I definitely consider myself a feminist. I hate how the word has become twisted into this negative sort of ‘ragey’ thing. We should ALL be feminists!

    1. That comment from Aziz Ansari is PERFECT.

    2. Yes, we should be … and we are! … all feminists!

  2. Question: why are you hesitant to describe yourself as a feminist? I don’t think you should ever feel weird to call yourself that and from what I know of you, you ARE a feminist. You believe in equal rights and you fight for them. You are a feminist. Wear that label with pride!

    1. I am not hesitant, I was just saying that I don’t call myself a feminist out loud a lot…. maybe I should do it more often :)

  3. What a wonderful birthday, glad you had such a great celebration! Also, hurray birthdays!

    1. Or you know, I could comment on the wrong post, ha. But I love this one too :)

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