An opinion piece by a Republican Activist in the importance of International Working Women’s Day in the ongoing fight for Women’s Liberation
On March 8th, 2025, people worldwide may pause to recognise International Working Women’s Day, a day meant to celebrate women’s achievements and advocate for gender equality. Is it ridiculous that in 2025, we still need a dedicated day to remind the world that women deserve the same rights, opportunities, and respect as men, despite their being at the front of many revolutions, societal, political, and military? Equality must be a lived reality rather than an aspiration marked on a yearly calendar?
The persistent need for International Working Women’s Day highlights the uncomfortable and inescapable truth, gender remains an impediment. Women continue to face systemic barriers, entrenched systemic discrimination, and the ridiculous paradox of being simultaneously celebrated and restricted. The idea of “celebrating” women, while well-intentioned, and even if we had equality a worthwhile endeavour feels like an empty gesture when juxtaposed against the harsh realities of continued systemic gender inequality. What is needed is not merely a day of recognition but a fundamental transformation of society, to a society where equality is a reality, not an ongoing battle.
It is time we change the narrative and the activism from symbolic and empty promises of appreciation to defined and concrete action. Women do not need to be glorified with poetic praises or floral tributes on March 8th, they need real, actionable progress.
The gender pay gap remains a stark reality in both developing and developed nations. Women, on average, still earn less than their male counterparts for the same work. This disparity is further exacerbated for women of colour, queer women, and women with disabilities. The continued underpayment and under valuation of women’s labour, whether in the corporate world, creative industries, or domestic spheres, proves that our economies are still structured around inequality, exploitative discrimination as policy and gender-based valuation.
The ability of a woman to make decisions about her own body remains, shockingly, a point of debate. In many parts of the world, access to contraception, abortion, and even basic reproductive healthcare is governed not by medical necessity but by male-dominated legislative bodies. A woman’s health should never be dictated by a religion, nor should access to lifesaving medical treatments be subject to outdated moral policing. Gender equality is impossible until every woman has full control over her own body.
Laws designed to “protect” women instead of building equality fall short, or worse, become counterproductive. In many nations, legal frameworks addressing workplace harassment, gender-based violence, and parental leave remain non-existent, insufficient, or poorly enforced. In some cases, legislation penalises women, such as policies that force women to prove their victimhood in cases of assault or domestic violence, putting them through additional trauma. Gender equity in law must move beyond protection and toward empowerment, ensuring that women are not just safeguarded from harm but actively supported in their pursuit of autonomy and success.
Language, terminology and rhetoric shape perception, and the way capitalist and exploitative systems label women plays a devastating role in sustaining that inequality and exploitation. The gender based terminology used to describe women, bossy instead of assertive, emotional instead of enthusiastic, difficult instead of determined, reinforces outdated and exploitative gender norms, aimed at justifying the attitudes and behaviours of those who ensure that systematic inequality and exploitation are the norm . The expectation that women must conform to narrow definitions of femininity or professionalism places undue burdens on them, . A woman’s identity should not be dictated by external labels but by her own choices, ambitions, and capabilities.
Imagine a world where gender is no longer a determining factor in how a person is treated, viewed, or restricted. A world where a woman’s career progression is not hindered by an unspoken and protected glass ceiling. A world where healthcare, education, and legal systems serve all people equally, irrespective of gender. A world where International Working Women’s Day no longer needs to exist because its mission has been achieved.
The transition to such a world requires collective effort. It is not just women who must advocate for change, it is the responsibility of all members of society. Men must actively challenge the privileges they benefit from and become allies in dismantling patriarchal structures. Society must implement policies that enforce equity, not just equality. Employers must take genuine steps to create workplaces that value women’s contributions without bias.
International Working Women’s Day must evolve beyond a date on the calendar. It must become a fact, a constant, unquestionable truth that no longer necessitates annual reminders. When will gender cease to be an issue? When the fight for equality is no longer a fight but an intrinsic part of society. When women no longer must demand what should have been theirs all along. When the conversation shifts from achieving equality to preserving the justice we have finally secured.
Until then, International Working Women’s Day must remain a call to action, not just a celebration. The fight continues, and the world must listen.
We exist We resist We rise