All I want for International Women’s Day is….
By Special Correspondent Jessica Yee
IWD is like Christmas time for me. Although I’m certainly not religious, I definitely enjoy the gathering of folks, the general merriness in the air, and the giving and receiving of presents (big or small!)
IWD is like that too. I look forward to it every year, and like any loyal family member, try to make it out to as many events as possible with something in hand to contribute. I walk away in an attempt to not indulge too much, and deal with the never-ending frustrations of the many differing perspectives on how this day should be celebrated.
So as the good ole tune goes, in my original remix, all I want for International Women’s Day is…
Justice for missing and murdered Indigenous women worldwide
That women who are learning to birth babies in their home communities be fully funded and supported to do so
Affordable access to birth control, particularly since it’s risen some 900% for low income women in the last two years
All Indian Health Service staff and centres to receive training on administering rape kits
That Aboriginal women be entitled to matrimonial real property on reserve, and restored rights to own land after divorce, separation, or widowhood
For pleasure to be an equal and important part of sex education
That the grandmothers who are still raising entire families all on their own be given their due
For the anti-choicers to stop their attacks in South Dakota and leave the state with the least amount of abortions alone
That International Women of Colour Day on March 1st gets more recognized
For the majority of health organizations who tout all the high statistics in Aboriginal communities to finally get it that they need culturally appropriate services and that the one size education models DO NOT fit all
That racist legislation such as the Hyde Ammendment, which basically states that racialized and low income women do not get funding from Medicaid to have an abortion, is repealed
Fair and equal pay for equal work, not the 72 cents to every dollar a man makes in Canada
That the ultimate mother; Mother Earth, is more well respected and taken care of
For another transgendered person not to worry that services won’t include them, whether at the fertility clinic or at the women’s centre on campus
That righteous Native female rap artists, like Eekwol and JB the First Lady get the mainstream radio play and cred they deserve for keeping it real
For people to know that sex positive feminism rocks, and that this also means supporting rights for sex workers
That the ongoing sterilization of women without their knowledge or consent, whether because they are HIV positive or racialized, ceases
For Indigenous feminists to come out as Indigenous feminists, loud and proud
That Aboriginal women and families be deemed fit and worthy caregivers, to eradicate the apprehension of the 27 000 First Nations children currently in state care
For older women and younger women to share, mentor, and talk more to one and other
That the men who are doing the damn thang working in solidarity with us to keep on keeping on. You are loved!
To not only pick one day out of the year to honour, revere, or celebrate the life-givers of this world
What do you want?
Carmen Van Kerckhove is co-founder and president of
News for March 9 | Xenia Institute on 09 Mar 2009 at 2:59 pm
[...] are facing and what issues regarding women that they want the world to take note of. Links include: Racialicious | “I look forward to it every year, and like any loyal family member, try to make it out to [...]