Don't Shop, Don't Work, Don't Talk

As I write this, it is International Women's Day. There is a lot happening on this day.  A lot of girl power and strength in numbers and fighting back and the like. What really struck me was the A Day Without A Woman initiative.  Protests and action items laid out for women to make notice of how the world would be without women for a day.  Women aren't shopping, they are not going to work; they are trying to be out of the picture for 24 hours. 


All day I was going back and forth about it.  Mostly because when all is said and done, I am not behind this movement.  (And secondly because I had to buy my lunch).  This whole thing reminded me of when a girl is mad at her boyfriend and she won't tell him why or say she is mad, but instead, she passive aggressively gives him the silent treatment, ignores him, doesn't give him the time of day. 


This is not effective. The guy can chill and relax and not deal with the argument and the girl can maintain her enraged state of being (as we often like to do). 


When I started really taking some time to think about this idea of women not spending and not going to work, it became clear that I was so NOT on board. If anything, we should be spending that money that we earned ourselves.  We should be celebrating each other for being women.  We should be spending our money on things that celebrate us as women--art, culture, fashion, food, literature.  We should not take work off but celebrate that we CAN work and that we are earning our own money.  


To be silent and be "without" women for a day goes against everything feminists and those fighting for women's rights are trying to do.  We must be as present as possible and support as many women as possible.  Sitting back to not spend or not work, that is almost like not voting. We fought for our right to vote.  What's next, not wearing pants???

When we look to make changes in the world, action is required.  Trying to prove a point by being silent to it just allows for that something to continue.  So, even though it is not International Women's Day anymore, tell a strong woman that you love her, support female-owned businesses, and if you are a woman, GOD DAMN GIRL, HAVE A GLASS OF WINE!