Every 8th of March, the entire world is one in celebrating International Women’s Day (IWD). Some of us may be asking why this is so when we already support women’s rights every day as a year-round thrust. The truth is that even with all the efforts to promote true gender equality, the UN reports 90% of people being prejudiced towards women. This is why IWD is a day to celebrate and recognise the achievements of incredible women around the world.
Here are 7 reasons to celebrate International Women’s Day
1. Because 99% of the world is prejudiced against women
According to a UN report, 90% of people around the world have at least one bias towards women in different areas, including reproduction, health, politics, employment, and education. Worse, the same report noted that one-third of this figure believes that husbands have the to right to beat their wives.
2. Because concerns on women’s health are ignored
Women’s health concerns are also underfunded. In fact, women who have endometriosis, a condition that affects 1.5 million women in the UK alone, have to wait seven years of pain before they are believed to be suffering from it and receive treatment. And that is only for one condition. How about the others? Reproductive health for example.
3. Because there is a pay gap between men and women
Do women work less hard than men? Is women’s work inferior to men’s? Why is there a pay gap between genders? On average, women are paid 18.4% less than men in the UK. This has even worsened as revealed by companies with 250 employees that are required to publish their gender-pay gap data. Worst, half of men don’t even believe such kind of gap exists.
4. Because in the case of 59 murdered women, rough sex was used as defence
In the past years, 59 women were murdered, and all 59 men who were tried for these cases used rough sex as defence. Since this defence means the women consented to the act that led to their death, the men received lesser and shorter sentences.
5. Because homicide cases involving women are getting higher
Since 2006, there have been more homicide cases against women, specifically showing a 10% rise in the number of female victims. Up until March 2019, there have been 241 female victims of manslaughter, murder, and infanticide. Also, the number of women reported to have been killed by a current or former partner has increased by almost a third.
6. Because rape cases only get a 2% conviction in the UK
It is appalling to note that rape has been ‘decriminalised’ in the country with only 2% of cases getting a conviction. Worse, only 32% of actual rape gets to reach the courts.
7. Because there is a decline in the number of women in positions of power
There used to be a lot of women holding positions of power everywhere in the world. However, there has been a steady decline from 2017 up to the present.
It is just fair to call for equality for women. Women work as hard but are more exposed to dangers. So, let’s join the celebration today—the International Women’s Day!
