The Farce of Women’s Day Tokenism

As we gear up to celebrate International Women’s Day, I can’t help but feel a burning rage and disappointment at the grotesque spectacle unfolding before us. Having dedicated nearly a decade of my life to the realm of gender issues, I’ve witnessed the evolution of Women’s Day celebrations from empowering events to nothing more than a hollow display of tokenism.

Today, as I steer through the events listed on various platforms, it’s disheartening to see that many are organized by individuals who not only lack a fundamental understanding of intersectional-feminism but are unabashedly misogynistic. These are the very people who revel in pulling women down, stifling the progress we’ve made over the years. It’s infuriating to see that, despite the strides we’ve taken, the so-called champions of Women’s Day are often wolves in sheep’s clothing.

In the past, my work has introduced me to remarkable individuals who have tirelessly fought for gender equality. However, in the last couple of years, I find myself surrounded by an increasing number of selfish and unkind figures who hold positions of power in their respective fields.. These are the gatekeepers, the decision-makers, and unfortunately, the underminers of progress. The very people who should be uplifting others are, instead, sowing seeds of discord and division among women.

Crime against women is at an all-time high, and instead of uniting against this menace, we find ourselves engaged in a vicious cycle of tearing each other down. The dark reality is that, while we claim to champion the cause of women, the ground reality speaks a different language. Not only are women facing an alarming surge in physical crimes, but the digital realm has also become a treacherous territory. Despite the supposed progress of society, women find themselves lacking safe spaces even on social media platforms. The online sphere, touted as a global platform, has transformed into a breeding ground for harassment, cyberbullying, and misogyny. The surge in online violence against women is an unsettling reflection of the broader societal issues at play, further marginalizing women and deterring them from freely expressing themselves. 

It’s time to stop the pretense. Women’s Day has devolved into a mere box-ticking exercise for many, with little genuine effort to address the deeply ingrained issues plaguing our society. We are living in a world where compassion and empathy are becoming scarce commodities, replaced by ruthless competition and a lack of solidarity among women.

The celebration of Women’s Day should be an opportunity for genuine reflection, collaboration, and action. Instead, it has become a mere smokescreen, concealing the harsh truth that misogyny is thriving, and the very individuals responsible for steering societal change are perpetuating a toxic environment.

As we approach this year’s Women’s Day, let us not be fooled by the glittering façade of events and hashtags. It’s high time we demand authenticity, empathy, and real change. Women deserve more than just a day of token acknowledgment; they deserve a world where their rights are truly championed, not just in words but in actions that speak louder than any orchestrated celebration ever could.