INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY 2018
Hi. My name is Jamie-Lea. I am a 21 year old, white, British woman who comes from privilege. My family love me and I have never been subject to discrimination for my gender. I was raised by both a mother and a father who love me unconditionally and never treated me any differently because I am a female. I am surrounded by independent women who will not settle for less. I have learned to demand respect. I have learned to speak my mind and never be afraid to hold back and for this I have never been punished, only congratulated for fighting for my own opinions. I have rights. I have a right to education and I have access to a higher education if I so wish for it. I am able to choose to marry and I am able to decide if marriage is appropriate. I am in control on what I do to my body. I know that I will never be pressured by my family or friends to have a baby or to start a family.
I recognise my privilege and I recognise my luck. The only trouble I have faced being a woman is being cat called on the street when I was 15 or being felt up in a club on my 18th birthday by hands I did not wish to be on my body. I have been told by a man that he wished to speak to someone more intelligent than me, that he could see that I “have had training, darling” but was not happy with my explanation of numbers. I am lucky that this kind of behaviour only happens to me by strangers. I am able to come home and speak about this openly, get it all off my chest and then be told by people that care about me that I am “so much more”. I am surrounded by women who remind me of my power. They remind me that being a woman is a gift. I am told I am intelligent before being told I am beautiful and for that I am grateful.
International Women’s Day is a day of celebrating those women who constantly inspire you. Who constantly fight for better. However, it is also a day to remind yourself, ourself, myself that there are women out there who aren’t as lucky as me.
Over 30 million girls aged 11-15 do not have the right to an education. Girls are being faced with work rather than attending school. There are young girls being forced into marriages with much older men by their family. In some parts of the world, a girl getting her period is a enough of a sign to show she is ready to carry a child. Girls are forced into pregnancy as young as 9 years old and many do not survive. These girls are constantly raped, abusived and mistreated. A word that should not come after child is the word bride.
In Ghana, women are taking it upon themselves to teach each other the importance of hygiene and santirary care. They have created their own education system and are travelling around different areas to educate people on this basic human right. However, the government did not feel that this was money will spent and cut the funds. Girls and women have the right to be educated on their own bodies. A women’s body is not shameful. Periods are not disgusting.
Today is for women to shout extra loud.
Today is for women to raise their voice. A woman should be heard and seen.
Today is for women to celebrate their womanhood.
Today is for women of colour.
Today is for women who weren’t born women.
Today is for women fighting so every woman has a voice.
Today is for disabled women.
Today is for women in the LGBQTA+ community.
Today is for ALL women.
I am here to say thank you to the women in my life. Thank you to my mother who has never given up on me. Thank you my nan for showing me strength. Thank you to my cousins, aunts, God-mothers who have shown me that real beauty comes within. I am hear to use what voice I have to yell and scream for everyone who does not have the same privilege and right as me.
We, as women, are strong, we are intelligent. Women have continued to show the world that we are here and we are not afraid to let the people know we have arrived.
Here’s to my sisters all around the world. I am ready to fight with you.
May you all stand proud and strong.
Happy International Women’s Day.
I recognise my privilege and I recognise my luck. The only trouble I have faced being a woman is being cat called on the street when I was 15 or being felt up in a club on my 18th birthday by hands I did not wish to be on my body. I have been told by a man that he wished to speak to someone more intelligent than me, that he could see that I “have had training, darling” but was not happy with my explanation of numbers. I am lucky that this kind of behaviour only happens to me by strangers. I am able to come home and speak about this openly, get it all off my chest and then be told by people that care about me that I am “so much more”. I am surrounded by women who remind me of my power. They remind me that being a woman is a gift. I am told I am intelligent before being told I am beautiful and for that I am grateful.
International Women’s Day is a day of celebrating those women who constantly inspire you. Who constantly fight for better. However, it is also a day to remind yourself, ourself, myself that there are women out there who aren’t as lucky as me.
Over 30 million girls aged 11-15 do not have the right to an education. Girls are being faced with work rather than attending school. There are young girls being forced into marriages with much older men by their family. In some parts of the world, a girl getting her period is a enough of a sign to show she is ready to carry a child. Girls are forced into pregnancy as young as 9 years old and many do not survive. These girls are constantly raped, abusived and mistreated. A word that should not come after child is the word bride.
In Ghana, women are taking it upon themselves to teach each other the importance of hygiene and santirary care. They have created their own education system and are travelling around different areas to educate people on this basic human right. However, the government did not feel that this was money will spent and cut the funds. Girls and women have the right to be educated on their own bodies. A women’s body is not shameful. Periods are not disgusting.
Today is for women to shout extra loud.
Today is for women to raise their voice. A woman should be heard and seen.
Today is for women to celebrate their womanhood.
Today is for women of colour.
Today is for women who weren’t born women.
Today is for women fighting so every woman has a voice.
Today is for disabled women.
Today is for women in the LGBQTA+ community.
Today is for ALL women.
I am here to say thank you to the women in my life. Thank you to my mother who has never given up on me. Thank you my nan for showing me strength. Thank you to my cousins, aunts, God-mothers who have shown me that real beauty comes within. I am hear to use what voice I have to yell and scream for everyone who does not have the same privilege and right as me.
We, as women, are strong, we are intelligent. Women have continued to show the world that we are here and we are not afraid to let the people know we have arrived.
Here’s to my sisters all around the world. I am ready to fight with you.
May you all stand proud and strong.
Happy International Women’s Day.
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