Head in Sand Does Not Improve Vision for Women

Hello,

I am always amazed when I talk with women who seem totally out of touch about the status of women, here in the United States and across the globe. Ignoring the facts doesn’t make them go away, and today seemed like a great day to talk about women and “women’s issues.” I say “women’s issues” because these are not women’s issues, they are everyone’s issues.

Today, March 8, is International Women’s Day.  IWD was first celebrated in the US in 1909 to honor the 1908 garment workers strike in New York.  Since then, IWD has been celebrated in many countries around the world with events focused on improving rights, working conditions, and opportunities for women.

The month of March is also Women’s History month —an event that started out as a bill co-sponsored by Sen. Orrin Hatch, Utah and Rep Barbara Mikulski , Maryland  proclaiming the week beginning March 7, 1982 as Women’s Week. Getting a whole month was a long time in the making. Read about it here

How about that? A whole month recognizing women’s contributions, achievements and spotlighting gender inequality and women’s “issues.”  Aren’t you impressed? I’m not. It’s not that I don’t think it’s great that these events occur. It’s just that a day, a week, a month to honor women’s contributions and shine a light on what women accomplish?  Come on—there’s a lot of work to do. A day, a week, a month to draw attention to what is going on with women in the world is a drop in the bucket.  Check out just 11 facts about women around the world.  

Wage discrepancy is a big item on most women’s issues lists, and it is number one on this one.  These articles in recent Star Tribune articles are a great resource to start taking a hard look at what is going on.

Glass ceiling on female ADs rarely gets broken

and

Pay falls short for Minnesota women

If you live in the United States, you are better off than most women around the world, but I totally agree with Lois Alter Mark‘s article on the Huffington Post. Let’s Make Today the Last International Women’s Day.  “Let’s celebrate International Women’s Day by banding together to make the day unnecessary. As women, we don’t want special treatment – just equal.”  Get your head out of the sand now. Help another woman today–and every day.

 Actions you can take

Support women in other countries with Kivagive a free $25.00 loan if you are new to Kiva

Educate yourself about the status of women

She Power Blog

Amnesty International

Learning Partnership

 

About Karen

Karen Karsten, CPCC, CAC, has had several business careers, in government, finance, retail and publishing. Each career was a building block that helped her create the life she has now as a coach, writer and executive director of Rich Chicks and Creative Principle of Think You Can LLC.

Her companies, Think You Can (www.thinkyoucan.net) and Rich Chicks (www.richchicks.org) both explore the magic of prosperity and creating clarity about life values. Karen has total faith in the magic of belief. Notice how that works either way: belief of magic, magic of belief. Magic is there—in you, too. Take a moment right now and honor the magic in you.

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