International Women’s Day is memorable for many, but it can also be a reminder for some. It’s a day to celebrate women’s achievements and raise a call for gender equality.
“National Women’s is one of those days where I can feel more confident with myself,” said anonymous.
Since the era of the American Continental Congress, women have faced discrimination and stereotyping, resulting in systemic sexism, inequality, and limited rights.
A student shared their experience stemming from gender discrimination.
“I felt like I can’t even disagree with certain people without them being like ‘Omg why are you so mad is it your hormones?’ or ‘I don’t think you’re able to think straight if you’re on your days’ with like a condescending tone. It’s so annoying it like actually gets me angrier instead of my actual cramps,” stated anonymous.
Alexa Lopez, an office staff member, pushed back against rigid expectations set on women.
“I think women should have the choice of what they want for themselves, whether they want to go into the work field, or if they do want to become housewives,” said Lopez.
“A lot of people look at women in their mid-20s to like figure out whether they’re going to get married or not and what’s the next step,” Lopez stated, “whereas I don’t know if it would be considered the same if I were a man, and would those norms be the same?”
Discussing personal milestones often seems like a formality, but it can shape biases. Alexa Lopez knows this well, as her mom frequently hears comments about her future.
“Somebody will kind of like, be like, ‘oh, when will you get married?’ my mom will be like, ‘oh, she’s still finishing school.’ So she’ll always have my back,” said Lopez.
