Reflections to rethink and relocate the meaning of International Women’s Day, During the years that I served my country as a member of the Mexican Foreign Service, I was in charge of representing the gender equality unit and since then I remember the debate on whether to celebrate or commemorate women’s day.
Reflections to rethink and relocate the meaning of International Women’s Day
In these lines, I propose more than celebrating or commemorating, raising our awareness of equality through reflection.
In 1911, the International Conference of Socialist Women in Copenhagen, Denmark, established March 8 to commemorate the fight for women’s equality, mainly with the intention of improving their working conditions and their right to vote.
Throughout history, the accumulation of experiences of oppression and discrimination that women have lived have been recorded in the collective unconscious of humanity. We see it reflected in a system of distorted beliefs about the value of women, their self-esteem, their self-concept and the roles they play. This has been passed down from generation to generation.
Reflections to rethink and relocate the meaning of International Women’s Day, We can see that gender stereotypes are not only reflected in art, literature, politics, the media, the lack of equity in representation in senior executive and managerial commands, etc., they are also reflected in the thoughts, feelings, beliefs, attitudes and the way of making decisions.
The idea that women are sentimental, fickle or irrational, weak or sensitive, is part of judgments, predispositions, perceptions and interpretations of reality according to what is inherited, modelled, seen or learned. The truth is that men can also be sentimental, fickle, irrational, weak or sensitive; They are characteristics of the human being.
The urgency of transforming the social and cultural structures in which inequality and discrimination coexist requires everyone’s effort. Recognizing and valuing the role and contribution of people as human beings in all spheres of life is a process that demands the committed participation of all of society.
If you’re reading me, regardless of your gender, you were born to a woman who did what she could with the tools at her disposal to push you forward, or not, during the early years of your life. Regardless of what her relationship is today and the efforts not to repeat what you did not like, surely you inherited ways of being, thinking, acting and feeling; The reflection that I propose is to review the messages that you remember receiving about women.
The ability to respond to the consequences of our actions is learned and requires awareness to recognize, on the one hand, our value and abilities, talents, and aptitudes as individuals, and, on the other, realize the impact we cause with the decisions we make and the ones we make. we do not drink.
In the exercise that follows, observe and recognize if your relationships with others are horizontal or vertical relationships.
Reflections to rethink and relocate the meaning of International Women’s Day, A horizontal relationship is one that recognizes the equality of the other person, in which you recognize yourself as equal to the other person: this goes far beyond gender.
Reflections to rethink and relocate the meaning of International Women’s Day, A vertical relationship supposes a hierarchical value through doing or having, which implies a distortion of being.
Do you recognize the value of others for who they are, regardless of their social position, gender, age, economic capacity, a position they occupy, etc.?
And even more important: Do you recognize your value for who you are, regardless of your social position, gender, age, economic capacity, position you occupy, and so on?
I propose to review the collective interpretation that has been made of the phrase “empowerment of women”; It is not a fashionable term that is used during the March marches or around a national news story; think of it as recognition that women are already powerful. In this sense, it does not mean that she becomes powerful, it is not about someone losing or someone winning, it is about learning to assume and exercise the I can! that she is already his.
I invite you to recognize and honour the value, talents, and contributions of women in your closest circle on this International Women’s Day. If you are a woman, start with yourself.
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