A rant about
why I’m not a big fan of International Womens’ Day
I know… no newsletter the last 3 weekends. My brain exhausts me sometimes. This time because it’s too fast and in rapid information collection mode. And I don’t have the brainspace to put stuff down. But anyway, I plan to build up a bank of a few posts that I can also post every weekend even if my brain is in shutdown or hyperfocus mode. But I’m back. I’ve been on a few adventures and some misadventures, both in my head and in reality. They’ll emerge over time in this newsletter. Stay tuned!
“Happy International Women’s Day. A whole day! I’m trying not to let it go to my head.”
- Sandi Toksvig
Just want to get this rant out of the way. Not to be a wet blanket, but actually be a little bit of one, but not really. TW: Don’t read any further if you’re easily triggered (like me) about women’s rights and violence against women.
Today is International Women’s Day, and I’m not a big fan of this day. Not because I’m not a fan of women. I am. I don’t like International Womens’ Day in the same way (but a little bit more) as the other “days” we celebrate - Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, etc. ONE day never does it justice, does it? And celebrating these days becomes an excuse to make up for shitty behaviour for the rest of the year?
Every time I am wished “Happy Women’s Day” I automatically cringe internally. And it takes a lot of energy for me to put on a smile and say “Thank you!” But I do it. I’ve learnt to say this like a script or code: if this, then that. Because what takes even more effort is to have a whole conversation about and explain why I don’t like it. Here’s the TL;DR: It’s fucking condescending. (Strong, female opinions ahead, read at your own risk, don’t @ me later).
I know it’s finally getting recognition we deserve etc. Every year, on International Women’s Day my brain just goes into automatic slot machine cling clangs (except it’s made in steampunk style) and brings up violence against women stats from all over the world. Women who are killed or sexually assaulted for wanting education, women who have to fight for the right to wear (or not wear) what they want, women who have to quiet their voices against patriarchy, women who are lower than cows in hierarchy of living things, women who fight to live every day because the kids need to be fed, women who are looking after all the people in their lives… it goes on.
Women are half the world’s population, and EVERY woman you know is carrying a few invisible burdens, has at least one (if not more) solid sexual assault story, and carries on her own internal revolutions constantly. Silently. Bravely. Fighting for small and big rights. Not just for themselves, but everyone they care about. Women are fucking strong in ways only women can be - gracefully. This is why we need more women leaders. Women make decisions differently. We band differently. We work differently (our mechanics, I mean). We do business differently. We think differently. We get more fucking shit done.
Anyway, you get my point. Rant over. I may need to go process this rage in therapy. But leaving you with the best Women’s Day Instagram reel that my friend Gonzo sent me. It’s the most heartfelt one and rings so true.
And actually leaving you with my recommendation of a book to read on International Women’s Day (even, and especially, if you’re not (or don’t identify as) a woman) - Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Dear Ijeawele, A Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions.
Meanwhile, stuff I’ve fermented this week is nothing. Nada. I’ve been travelling too much. I was in Bombay, Nashik, Chennai and Auroville. But I’m fermenting at all these places, or at least helping others ferment. I have to clear out and sort some ferments I do have. It probably wont happen this weekend. I have more travel coming up next week and the week after. My work is in my brain, not in my hands. I have done a ton of deep diving in the meantime, though. Let me just say there’s plenty to talk about. A few posts coming your way.
- Kōbo xo
PS: I’ve worked myself up writing this post and now I’m mildly annoyed that apple’s new keyboard has changed the shortcut for ō and it took me 5 seconds longer to find it. I’m going to go have a walk to calm down.
Thank you for your rant. I thought it was just me not "getting it." Glad to know I'm in good company.