Some would question where IWD belongs in today’s war-torn climate. Don’t we have equal rights already? Some may even believe that #freethenipple is the epitome of modern-day feminism.
National Women’s Day has been recognised since 28 February 1909. New York City was the first place in the World to protest, when 15,000 women marched demanding better pay, shorter working hours and the right to vote. By 1911 IWD was celebrated in Europe in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland.
Although International Women’s Day is now celebrated across 80 countries worldwide, the gender pay gap prevails. I’m here to tell you that International Women’s Day still has its place in society, and it’s not just about Instagram censoring nipples or even about Feminism.
This year the campaign theme is #breakthebias. 2022 is the year we strive for gender equality harder than ever. A year the promotes inclusivity and diversity, eradicating stereotypes and discrimination.
Yes, we do want to eliminate harmful double standards about sexualisation of women’s bodies.
But #breakingbiases is about facing issues predominantly, but not solely, affecting women, and altering damaging behaviours and attitudes that marginalise women and create environments where harassment, sexual violence and abuse can flourish. By challenging the establishments that have enabled such circumstances, they can be held accountable and pave the way for reforms that protect women and girls.
Dominating headlines at last
2021 was a year where violence and domestic abuse against women was brought to the attention of every newsreader in the UK. The surge in inter-marital abuse due to lockdown measures was heavily reported following the pandemic.
The murder of Sarah Everard in South London last year became a story of national interest after the prime suspect was identified as a serving Metropolitan police officer. Tributes and vigils turned to protest as distrust grew towards the police, and anger that such an unprovoked attack could be carried out by a member of the police force falsely arresting a woman in public.
Domestic abuse charity Refuge reported between April 2020 and February 2021, that calls and contact to their National helpline rose by 61%, and 11,616 safety plans were created.
Writer Karen Ingala Smith, who created the blog Counting Dead Women, recorded 141 women in 2021 were killed by a man in the UK, or the principal suspect of their death was male.
A call for change
Sadiq Khan last month called on men to actively participate in conversations to end harmful attitudes towards women.
“This is not just an issue with the minority of men who are violent. But also with those men who are sexist, who continue to behave inappropriately around women, who perpetuate a toxic form of masculinity or who just stand by silently when women feel threatened or are being threatened. Men must change.”
Tackling the issue of femicide involve a number of complex and uncomfortable conversations, including why non-fatal strangulation, economic and post-separation abuse were defined within law and criminalised only last year.
It was established by a UK study conducted between 2017-2020 that ethnic minorities are more likely to be victims of crime (despite being likely to be the suspect or receive a custodial sentence for a crime) than white counterparts.
It’s indisputably recognised having a predominantly white, (92.7% correct March 2020) police force contributes to a lack of cultural literacy, and over-incarceration and marginalisation of BAME members.
As of 2021, 66.9% of police constables in England and Wales were also male. Crimes that disproportionally affect women, such as domestic abuse and stalking offences, mostly result in community orders and suspended or non-custodial sentences.
A 2021 study commissioned by the home secretary also found some UK forces do not pay enough attention to breaches of prevention orders, the effect they have on victims and how well they perform in this area.
The correlation between underrepresentation in the force and underperformance in addressing issues faced by minority groups suggests diversity is a key factor in improving policing.
The International Women’s Day mission statement to promote inclusivity and diversity benefits society as much as it does women. It could reinstate faith in police, improve the effectiveness of crime prevention and punishment, and increase social harmony.
Read next: 10 inspirational people to remember on International Women’s Day