Not a happy women's day
A list of the women we love to hate.
Before the sun sets on International Women’s Day this year, I have a peculiar list to share with you. I will admit at the outset that I haven’t given this post too much thought, this list even less so.
Normally I look past this empty gesture of a day, but today, I had a brainwave. I’m tired of hearing about the women we love. So, let’s talk about all the women we love to hate.
Here’s the list:
Women who take too long to get ready. But also women who refuse to dress up.
Women who don’t wear makeup. But also women who wear red lipstick.
Women with lines and wrinkles on their face. But also women who’ve had work done.
Women who talk too much. But also women who never say anything at all.
Women who marry either too early or too late. But also women who never marry at all.
Women who devote their lives to their children. But also women who choose to remain child-free.
Women who stay at home. But also women who have a life outside the home.
Women in leadership roles. But also women in submissive relationships.
Women who have a voice of their own. But also women who never speak up.
Women who gain too much weight. But also women who lose too much weight.
Women who stay in a bad marriage. But also women who leave that marriage.
Women who love to shop. But also women who deprive themselves.
Women who display their symbols of marital status. But also women who don’t ‘look married’.
Women who ask for it. But also women who never ask for it.
Women who don’t identify as women. But also women who identify as…women?
This list is hardly exhaustive, so please feel free to add to it.
Let me leave you with a burning question.
What does it mean to be a woman? For cisgender individuals who identify as women, do we know where that conviction comes from? Is it a feeling or an experience that we can describe? What’s the origin of that identity?
The day we stop admiring women simply because they are women (benevolent sexism), and the day we stop criticising women simply because they are women (obvious sexism), is the day we’ll finally stop celebrating Women’s Day.
Until then, Happy March 8!
Women who want to climb the corporate ladder. Also women who don’t. Loved this list.
I love this!!! I want to print it and put it on my wall. You rock