International Women’s Day: Why I Am Not a Fan and the Change Women Really Need
Why I’m Not a Fan of International Women’s Day (And What We Actually Need)
Every year on March 8th, the world turns its attention to women. Companies roll out pink-themed marketing campaigns, leaders give speeches about equality, and social media floods with #InternationalWomensDay posts.
And yet, despite decades of celebrating this day, not much has actually changed.
Let’s talk about why.
The Problem With “A Day”
Think about it—only marginalized groups get “a day.” There’s a Black History Month because history books largely ignored Black contributions. There’s Pride Month because LGBTQ+ rights have been historically denied.
But men? They don’t need International Men’s Day (and the one that technically exists on November 19th isn’t exactly mainstream). Why? Because they’ve never needed a special occasion to fight for equality. The world has always prioritized them.
And women? We are not a minority. We make up half of the world’s population. Yet, every year, we get a single day to acknowledge the struggles we face. A day filled with platitudes, while the real issues remain:
• The gender pay gap is still real. Women still earn, on average, 20% less than men globally for the same work. In some industries, like tech and finance, the gap is even wider.
• Women are still underrepresented in leadership. As of 2024, only 10% of Fortune 500 CEOs are women. In politics, just 26% of parliamentary seats worldwide are held by women.
• Safety remains a constant concern. Women continue to experience higher rates of domestic violence, sexual assault, and street harassment. A 2021 study found that 97% of women in the UK aged 18-24 have been sexually harassed.
• Medical research still treats women as an afterthought. Most clinical trials were historically conducted on men, meaning that even today, women’s health issues—like endometriosis, PCOS, and heart disease—are often misdiagnosed or under-researched.
What We Actually Need
A day of awareness isn’t enough. We need real, systemic change that ensures women have the same opportunities, safety, and respect as men—every single day.
Imagine a world where:
✅ Women are paid the same as men for the same work—no excuses, no loopholes.
✅ Walking home at night doesn’t feel like a game of survival.
✅ Medical research actually prioritizes female health, instead of treating it as “too complicated.”
✅ Little girls grow up knowing every profession is open to them—not just the ones that are “traditionally female.”
We Don’t Need a Day. We Need:
✨ Equal pay. Pay transparency, stricter laws, and real accountability in workplaces.
✨ Safety at home and in public. Better policies, legal protections, and education to prevent violence against women.
✨ Medical equity. More funding for research into female-specific conditions and a healthcare system that actually listens to women’s pain.
✨ Representation. More women in leadership, politics, science, and media—because visibility creates possibilities.
We’re Not Done Yet
To all the incredible women out there: You are strong, powerful, and enough. I see you. I honor you. And I am deeply grateful for both the women and men who continue to fight for gender equality every day.
But let’s be clear: We’re not done.
I hope that in 10 years, International Women’s Day won’t be about raising awareness of problems that should have been solved long ago. Instead, I hope it will be a day of celebration—because we’ll finally be living in the world we’ve been fighting for.
