In the U.S., the problem is no less pronounced than it is elsewhere. According to the U.S. Census, women make less than 80 percent of what men do. Women hold 19 percent of seats in Congress. And among CEOs of Fortune 500 companies, fewer than 5 percent are women (Lui, 8 March, 2015).
Today is International Women's Day, started in 1908, originally called International Working Women's Day, and is celebrated on March 8 every year (UN). The political and gender equality and anti-violence toward women focus has continued on In many countries, including the United States, although direct action, such as marches, happen mainly in larger cities like New York City.Some people celebrate the day by wearing purple ribbons (Wikipedia).This year there is a an active Twitter campaign with the hashtag, #Nothereyet, signifying that women have a long way to go to reach wage equality, paid maternity leave, more representation in government and management of companies.
Icelandic women struck in 1975, making significant gains, including equal pay, which was granted them in 1976. They also elected a woman president in the early 1980s. This level of activism and dedication to the cause of gender equality is not apparent in the US. There is a great deal of denial and backlash against the activism that produced the small gains in the 60s, 70s and 80s, e.g. Equal Employment Opportunity Act and Title IX, which funded girls' sports in schools.
As long as women's wages are 3/4 and less of men's wages and women are denied access to most higher paid management positions, hitting a glass ceiling before reaching the top of corporations, we have a long way still to go to attain true gender employment equality.
I admire Patricia Arquette who used her Oscar acceptance speech to urge equal rights and pay for women. It seems more and more women are joining the struggle and speaking out for women. It is also becoming more acceptable to be a feminist, partly because celebrities such as Beyonce and Taylor Swift, who have recently identified themselves as "feminist".
A bird cannot fly on one wing, as noted humanitarian P. R. Sarkar has said. When the status of women is elevated, men and children will also benefit since women are the foundation of the family and of society, and are an integral part of families, the workplace and society. Let us make the equality and status of women our first priority as has the United Nations this year. Join the United Nations campaign, "Empowering Women, Empowering Humanity—Picture It!", Step It Up for Women!
References
Lui, R. March 8, 2015. MSNBC News Report.
United Nations Women Watch. International Women's Day. UN.org.
Wikipedia.
