Hello everyone and welcome back to my blog. Long time no see…These last few days have been hectic, but I am back to wrap up the month on a good note.
March is widely known as “Women’s History Month”. As you all know, March 8th is the day dedicated to all women around the world. Every year, I see people wishing women “Happy Women’s Day” like it’s an anniversary or a holiday, like Mother’s Day, when in fact, this date is a focal point in the ongoing women’s rights movement. It is mostly a day where we should draw attention to all the injustices that women still face in the world today.
As I was designing the post for Women’s Day to publish on my blog’s Instagram page, I was thinking about a few different ways I could dedicate this month’s article to all the strong, inspiring, and ambitious women out there. I avoided the idea of talking about women who have impacted my life, as it would have been too clichéd. So I opted for this text in which I highlight some ways we discriminate against women in our daily lives.
In sports
I am a passionate soccer fan, but growing up I never watched women’s soccer as it was not as popular as it is today. Nevertheless, I would always hear people mentioning Marta as the best soccer player in her category. So if you were to ask me who my favorite woman soccer player was, I would most definitely mention her name. Now imagine my joy and pride when I discovered Melchie Dumornay (Corventina). She had quickly become a fan’s favorite and is now one of the names being mentioned when people talk about women’s soccer in the world. Despite her remarkable talent and growing recognition, she still faces discrimination. I cannot count the number of times I have either heard or read comments in which people, especially Haitians make nasty comments regarding her physique and skills. It happens way too often that people openly admit that they don’t believe that she’s really a girl, and that she could be a boy because of how good she is. We are in 2024 people !! We need to stop undermining one’s ability and skills because of their gender. Yes women can be athletic and as skilled as some of our favorite male figures.
In the workplace
Men often dismiss women’s contributions in fields traditionally dominated by men. Way too often I hear phrases like “You will not understand” “Let me bring it down a notch for the ladies”, when men are talking about a subject that they think us women don’t master, for example anything technology related. However, witnessing women excel in anything STEM(Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths) related is encouraging. There is actually no limit in what women can do as long when given the opportunity to learn and further our knowledge.
In society
Societal expectations also play a major role in how women are treated. It’s quite shocking that some people still believe that a woman’s place is solely in the kitchen. Our society has taught us since childhood, that a woman should know how to cook, clean and take care of children. Without those “skills”, we would not be able to get married, and if we do, our in-laws would send us back home. Yet, I don’t think I have ever heard one say that men would not be able to find wives if they cannot put together furnitures or cut down a big tree. The rule only applies to women, how convenient right? We need to stop with the double standards. This notion is outdated and harmful, yet we continue to pass it along to the new generations.
Now, can we talk about our discography for a minute? We literally grew up with a bunch of old songs that scream misogyny and sexism, and it seems like no one actually cares about the lyrics as long as the melody is catchy. I will not mention any names but next time you can, take the time to really listen to, and understand the lyrics of our favorite “classics”. Don’t be shy to read between the lines. 
There are also a lot of stereotypes that reveal underlying biases against women. For example why every time we almost get into a car accident or whenever a car makes a wrong turn in front of us we automatically assume that the driver is a woman? It’s as if, years later we still believe that some things, in this case “driving” should only be allowed for men. Why is it okay for a man to live by himself but when it’s a woman, it is considered weird and she gets called all sorts of names? Just living by yourself as a woman has a lot of ugly connotations…are we okay?
Like I said in the beginning, I love soccer. I would probably have a lot of money if I received a dollar every time a man tried to make fun of me or belittle my knowledge of the game. I remember one day I joined a soccer debate and one of the men asked me if I knew anything about soccer. I said yes and was excited to prove myself, but he looked at me, laughed and said you probably only know when there’s a goal because you hear people scream. I know it was supposed to be a “joke”, but jokes shouldn’t be made to belittle anyone because of their gender.
In conclusion, as we close “Women’s History Month”, let us acknowledge all the time we have participated in discrimination against women. To reflect on our actions, here are some questions to consider:
- Have I ever used language or made jokes that are disrespectful or belittling towards women?
- Have I ever made assumptions about a woman’s abilities or competence only based on her gender?
- Have I ever interrupted or talked over a woman during conversations? Have I ever dismissed or ignored her ideas or contributions only because of her gender ?
- Have I ever participated in or condoned behaviors or practices that marginalize or exclude women?
- Have I ever perpetuated the stereotype that a woman’s success can only be attributed to personal connections rather than recognizing her talent, hard work, and dedication?
- Do I understand the fight for Women’s rights or do I make fun of the feminist movement?
To all the women out there that are facing all types of discrimination everyday, please always remember that you are strong, and you are deserving of all the glory that comes from your achievements. Don’t be afraid to celebrate, don’t be afraid of the any negative comments that will follow your success…Remember that you are never alone. Now to all the men out there that have the power to say something and make a difference, use every chance you get to uplift women and break generational stereotypes. Let us combine our strength to forge a better tomorrow for the generations ahead.
That’s all I have for today. There is so much more I could say but I will end it here. I hope you enjoyed reading my article and I will see you next time. Until we meet again, stay safe and be blessed…always!!!