International Women's Day

• International Women's Day is observed annually on March 8th.
• The day recognizes women's cultural, political, and economic accomplishments globally.
• It also acknowledges the positive impact women have made on society.

Arguments Against International Women's Day

• Some critics view it as counterproductive and unnecessary.
• One argument is that women have already achieved equality, making further campaigning obsolete.

Ongoing Gender Inequality

• Despite having the same rights as men legally, women often face subtle discrimination.
• Common household items tend to cost more for women compared to men.
• Women earn 16% less than men on average, even when performing the same jobs.
• Societal expectations often place the responsibility of childcare on women.
• This can reduce their ability to achieve professional success that is on a par with male counterparts.

Underrepresentation in Government

• Women are significantly underrepresented in local and national government.
• In the UK, only 208 of 650 Members of Parliament are women.
• There are only 199 female peers out of 826 in the House of Lords.
• Underrepresentation makes it harder to address women's issues at a national level.

Women as a Minority Group

• Women can be viewed as falling into a minority group because they lack the same power, privileges, and opportunities as men.
• Women's struggles occur within a patriarchal society where men hold authority in most systems.
• Sexism is ingrained in society, even if it is frequently over looked.
• International Women's Day serves to highlight and examine these complex issues.

Claims of Female Privilege

• Men's Rights organizations argue that women receive special treatment.
• Women are allegedly less likely to be expected to perform manual labor or risky jobs.
• The legal system is considered by some to favor women, with lighter prison sentences and advantages in family court.
• These perceived privileges exist primarily in private or domestic settings.
• Men still dominate leadership positions in companies and countries.
• These "privileges" were established as social norms mainly by men, not women.

International Men's Day

• International Men's Day is celebrated on November 19th.
• It recognizes men's contributions to families and society.
• The focus is on highlighting positive role models and raising awareness of male emotional wellbeing.
• Men face challenges, including a higher likelihood of undiagnosed mental health issues and a higher suicide rate.
• Addressing the issues faced by each gender has the potential to promote positive change and equality.