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Vijay

If IWD is tokenism, then the story of Suraya by Shafiur should be a reason why this particular tokenism in Muslim countries is necessary and valid.

Also from BD, an article on the Origins of IWD.

Iranian police charged a peaceful gathering of women’s rights activists meeting in Tehran to celebrate International Women’s Day, Human Rights Watch reported March 9. Hundreds of women had gathered at Tehran’s Daneshjoo Park on March 8, but shortly afterwards the park was surrounded by anti-riot police and Revolutionary Guards who ordered the women to disperse. When the women staged a sit-in instead, the police dumped cans of garbage on the women’s heads and charged into the group using batons to move them out of the park.

I disagree that IWD is tokenism: a lot of women’s groups use IWD to draw attention to their year-round activities, which otherwise stay under the radar.

I agree with your remark, but you hardly have people doing something about equality. What am saying is that these days help in putting a point forward which is that women too want a place in today’s society and this goes for other states who are ignorant about women’s rights.

I’m just saying that the existence of these days, while it ends up raising the profile of some worthwhile projects, allows people to give the impression they care while doing nothing more. Like I said – what exactly needs more awareness? Gender equality should be an action plan – straight up, not some tokenistic memorial day.

(and mirax – I was planning to plug Blank Noise anyway, just wanted the angle)

This day also brings in awareness to women who have lost hope whlie they are being oppressed. It is not a stunt they are staging, they are making a place for themselves.

Why do we need awareness raising about 50% of our society? It’s ludicrous! What do you need awareness raising about? That women exist? That they deserve equal rights? It’s preaching the the converted – all these events. I would rather that the government, and companies, spend money on actually enforcing equality than spending time and effort on one-off days and thereby giving the illusion that “they care”.

People seem to forget that special days such as this are there to raise awareness which I personally believe they do. There may be a hint of PR in there but the ultimate goal will always be raising awareness and if it gets people to stand up and take note then it can’t be anything bad!

Would you have mentioned this group had it not been International Women’s day? Probably not sunny, because, admit it or not, the fact that the day was there reminded you of these issues and the people out there fighting for them.

Couple that with the fact that it reminds WOMEN themselves what they have achieved and what they can accomplish, and I’d say it’s a tad bit more exciting and effective than Valentine’s day.

You have lost the freakin’ plot

Also learn to read. Asking Sunny for an explanation for a rather throwaway sentence (and sentiment) or questioning his choice of subject is pretty legit and NOT a PERSONAL attack. I know this sort of niceties often escape you but you gotta try boy!

Why?

Not wanting to knock you around too much, Sunny (we wimin are known for our boundless kindness rather than our ass-kickin prowess, afterall), but an Indian blog project about eve teasing was all you found worthy of making an exception for?