The intersectionality of International Women's Day

Debates on the relevance of International Women’s Day appear to be gaining more traction in our current political climate, but the necessity of the day seems more than apparently clear.

To the many privileged individuals, cosily wrapped in their blankets of patriarchal comfort, International Women’s Day may seem a frivolous concept, one which has run its course. These people, from those harbouring subconscious internalised misogyny to far-right fanatics, will force ‘woke’ communities to listen to their narrow-minded, western-centric ‘proof’ as to why women’s rights have been fulfilled.

I have heard all too many of these arguments against the importance of the feminist movement. Today, as a woman, I can vote, I can get any job I want, I can get a divorce. I can be lesbian or bisexual, all by perceived choice.

These allegations, some oversimplified and some just downright false and problematic, aim to position women as equal to any man. Even the men who fearlessly go for runs in Glasgow after 7pm, or who walk home from a 10pm finish, free from frantic movements and a panicked phone call to their closest peers. 

Every year there are individuals who care more about weaponizing International Men’s Day than allowing twenty-four hours of visibility for the problems facing women in the UK. 

As a modern-day woman, I’m extremely aware of the many political, social, and economic advantages I have as a woman; rights and freedoms my great-grandmother could only have dreamed of. Yet, the progression myself and many others benefit from, is no way, shape or form, an excuse to dismantle and diminish the necessity of International Women’s Day. Femininity remains a disadvantage globally- albeit it in varying degrees. The plight of every woman, in one way or another, still exists. 

In the UK, violence against women is a national emergency. A study conducted in 2024, found that nearly a quarter of people in the UK had knowledge of a woman who had been abused in the last year. In rural areas, rape allegations are met with overwhelming speculation over the woman’s actions; her clothes, how much she had been drinking, or white lies she had told before. Even in tight-knit communities, most inhabitants relish in speculating on women’s trauma, whilst they are already in utter distress. Many women I know are warned not to join the police by concerned family members, aware of the misogynistic hardships of sexism they will face. 

Women’s Day is international for a reason; the feminist cause should never be confined to those who look like us, speak the same language or worship the same God.

These are just a few reminders of the gender issues prevalent in our developed and democratic society. Women can tick a ballot box and get a degree, but current politicians are overrun with sexual abuse allegations. After that degree, we may be denied a promotion due to biases in the workplace, biases painting women as emotional and dramatic. Women’s lives remain at risk from just rejecting the advances of men or walking past them on a drunken Saturday night. 

Women across the globe are still stripped of their human rights. Their bodily autonomy is imprisoned, their lives dictated and policed through violence and fear. Afghanistan, Sudan, Brazil, Russia, Congo, just to name a few. In every one of these places, women are dehumanised and subjected to horrific ordeals. How can we label International Women’s Day as old-fashioned and redundant when women are still persecuted.

Women’s Day is international for a reason; the feminist cause should never be confined to those who look like us, speak the same language or worship the same God. With this in mind, the day can be used to reflect on the interconnectedness between gender issues and issues which affect queer and racial communities. 

In Afghanistan, Islamic cultural beliefs are distorted by the Taliban to engender a regime where women are mere objects, unable to obtain an education, get healthcare, or even walk without a male guardian. As Richard Bennett has stated, in 2025, we are still experiencing “gender apartheid”. 

Palestinian women face gendered violence, as they are subjected to sexual assault and rape, whilst attacks are also being made on fertility clinics and maternity facilities. In various African countries, female genital mutilation is still commonly practised. In America, men are increasingly embracing the disgusting rhetoric of ‘your body, my choice’ after Trump’s election. Across the globe, these stories are endless.

In another light, International Women’s Day allows us to celebrate and revel in hope. It reminds us to embrace the strength of women: both past and present. 

From a privileged position, or a simplistic mindset, many may argue that worldly attitudes on gender have progressed, and that women now have an equal playing field. But from what I have mapped out, the falsehood of these ideals appear clear as day. Ultimately, how will we ever create a world truly fit for women, if a singular day is thought too much?

Published 4 April 2025