Shall I start with the clichés that every day is International Women’s Day? That all women matter? We are your mothers, sisters, wives, girlfriends and daughters. That women are equal to men.
For me, a western girl, raised by a loving family in a secure and safe environment, that is an easy truth to embrace. I can scream to the world about injustice. I can write on my social media about it; share my opinions as I feel entitled to. Hell, I can even write these words to you for Kerrang!.
I can also be irritated that women in the country that I am from (The Netherlands) make less money for the same job compared to a man. I'm outraged about stories that make it to the news about rape, about slavery, human trafficking... I'm saddened to the core when I read about women in societies where equality doesn’t exist and women are treated so poorly they’d rather die. I'm sick to my stomach when I read that the mutilation of the female genitals is an ongoing fact. How many International Women’s Days do you think these women have celebrated?
So what do we want to emphasise on International Women’s Day? The ongoing nightmares for many women on a daily basis? Or the fact that things are getting better? Maybe both, because both are true. The world is a safer place than ever. Women are getting heard more in this male-driven society and equality is getting there, more and more. More women dare to stand up and say no; unite and fight. Religion is losing ground, often a cause for much inequality and hypocritical superstitions.