Celebrating the indomitable spirit of Women

Challenged world is an altered world, and with challenges comes a change. International women’s day has been celebrated for over a century now. But many people think of it as a feminist movement, where its roots lies in the labor movement. It was first organized in 1911 by the early 20^th century Marxist from Germany Clara Zetkin who was born in 1857 in Germany’s Wiederau. Zetkin was a part of both Labor and the Women’s movement. Being a co-founder of the international socialist Women’s congress, Zetkin proposed that women’s day be celebrated in every country on February 28, during the conference. The conference comprised hundred women from seventeen countries. The first women’s day was observed in 1911.Two years later, in 1913 the date was changed to March 8, and it continues to be celebrated on same day, every year.

Coming to the point, the question arises that why I am addressing the history of women’s day briefly? Please there is no need to wonder as you know the answer. The history shapes the narratives and current events. We can’t take apart history from present because it is sort of impossible to have an insight on from where it all started, what are the foundations, what functions can be considered in order to achieve something. To get the answers, there must be some existing knowledge of the event. So having said that change is not just a part of society of contemporary era, it has been a part of past as well. It is coming along us and it will go along with us for infinite number of years. Change is an eternal process as this eminent quotation is very relatable at the moment is that “The only constant in life is change”. In past women protested for their rights against all odds and somewhere to some extent got what they want. They enacted prior to their existential rights that brought the change. Today’s women are also striving to bring the change to strike the excellence and not to compete anyone at any domain. She knows that she’s enough. She is enough to bring change. When women protest the power brokers should pay attention. The stalwart proponents with the suggestion that a female protester carries more symbolic and political haul. Indeed, when equality is achieved, women who protest will have the same power, and face the same penalties, as men. But we do not yet inhabit this equal world. And where patriarchy endures, female protesters are inevitably more formidable.

The very inequality of societies means that a woman’s protest carries more meaning because it is done against odds, defying expectations and with serious consequences. When women don’t protest, that means suppressive systems are stable. But when they take to the streets, it means the system has become untenable, and the consequences of speaking out are preferable to the status quo. Protesting women reveal the extent of injustice, and force the majority to question their assumptions. So change and receptive behavior is all needed to get there so let’s challenge the world to change the world. I would rather add a famous saying of Michelle Obama, which states:

“No country can every truly flourish if it stifles the potential of its women and deprives itself of the contribution of half its citizens”.

Author: HEERA ARSHAD