“International Women’s Day is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating women’s equality” (International Women’s Day). International Women’s Day (IWD) has been commemorated for over a century since its first occurrence in 1911. For decades, the holiday has celebrated women’s successes while simultaneously bringing attention to the existing gaps in gender equality.
To the United Nations Commision on the Status of Women, Secretary-General António Guterres remarked, “[The annual event] takes on even greater significance at a time when women’s rights are being abused, threatened, and violated around the world.” He continued, “Progress won over decades is vanishing before our eyes.” In Afghanistan, women and girls have continued to be greatly oppressed since the Taliban takeover in 2021. In the United States, womens’ abortion rights have been stripped following the overturning of Roe v. Wade last June. As for the rest of the world, women continue to face gender based discrimination in classrooms, the workplace, and almost all other aspects of daily life. In 2022 in the United States, women earned 82% of what their male counterparts earned, a statistic which has remained relatively stable for over two decades. In Spain, women face an even greater disadvantage, earning about 78% of what men earn.
While Spain has made some advancements in abortion access, parental leave, and menstrual leave, further action and change from lawmakers is being demanded. As in years past, more than one million demonstrators marched through Spanish cities for IWD, or as it is better known here, 8M. From Barcelona and Madrid to the smallest towns and communities, the need for progress was felt throughout the country.
However, the once united Spanish feminist movement has been weakened by its division over two pieces of legislation. In Madrid, the 8M Commission stood in support of the new trans rights legislation and is against the reform of the rape law, also known as the “only yes means yes” law. The opposing group, Madrid’s Feminist Movement has taken a strong stance against the “transgender law,” reasoning it would be an “erasure of women.” The other dividing piece of legislation is the “only yes means yes” reform. What started as an effort to better define consent and protect women has many believing it’s done just the opposite. The law merged the meanings of “assault” and “abuse,” resulting in reduced jail sentences and the release of hundreds of sex offenders since last fall. Madrid’s Feminist Movement is calling for the reform of this law while the 8M Commision is not. The influential Spanish feminist movement has brought the issue of divisions amongst feminist groups to the international stage.
Nevertheless, one thing is clear: we need change. Women are not equal to men in any country, and so the fight for gender equality continues. As Women’s History Month comes to a close, it’s important to recognize and appreciate the great progress made by women, for women, but also to understand the need for greater change.
Bibliography:
International Women’s Day 2023, https://www.internationalwomensday.com/. Accessed 12 March 2023.
Aragão, Carolina. “Gender pay gap remained stable over past 20 years in US.” Pew Research Center, 1 March 2023, https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2023/03/01/gender-pay-gap-facts/. Accessed 12 March 2023.
“Gender pay gap statistics – Statistics Explained.” European Commission, 7 March 2023, https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=Gender_pay_gap_statistics#Gender_pay_gap_levels_vary_significantly_across_EU. Accessed 12 March 2023.
Llach, Laura. “Spain’s powerful feminist movement split over trans and rape laws.” Euronews, 9 March 2023, https://www.euronews.com/2023/03/09/spains-powerful-feminist-movement-split-over-trans-and-rape-laws. Accessed 12 March 2023.
“Secretary-General’s remarks to the Commission on the Status of Women | United Nations Secretary-General.” the United Nations, 6 March 2023, https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/speeches/2023-03-06/secretary-generals-remarks-the-commission-the-status-of-women. Accessed 12 March 2023.“Thousands march for International Women’s Day in Spain.” Euronews, 9 March 2023, https://www.euronews.com/2023/03/09/thousands-march-for-international-womens-day-in-spain-as-lawmakers-debate-sexual-consent-l. Accessed 12 March 2023.