Editorial by Ghanaian Times: Happy International Women’s Day

Today is International Women’s Day (IWD).

Congratulations to all women across the globe.

The day started to be observed in the early 1990s on different dates in various countries until 1975, when the United Nations began celebrating it on March 8.

The day has resulted from women’s agitations for fair treatment and a better life wherever they are.

The records have it, for instance, that men’s oppression and inequality spurred women in the US and Europe to become more vocal and active in campaigning for change.

No wonder the date for marking IWD has its root in the arrest on March 8, 1914, of Sylvia Pankhurst while on her way to speak in Trafalgar Square in London at one of the rallies organised by women across Europe to campaign against the First World War and to express women’s solidarity in all the things they were fighting for across the globe.

On the occasion of celebrating women today, we pay tribute to the women who played front-line roles in fighting for a better life for women, such as Clara Zetkin, leader of the ‘Women’s Office’ for the Social Democratic Party in Germany, who, in addition to other roles, tabled the idea of an IWD.

The history of IWD must be read or studied by all people who are interested in the progress of women.

Today, women are calling for a better life for themselves and, in addition, for their children.

It is sad that societies across the globe are still male-dominated in everything except population numbers.

Chauvinism has become the bane of female progress in contemporary societies, a situation that does not augur well for the progress of society.

But for women and their physiology, the human race would have ceased to exist, and that role alone should be a good basis for pampering women in some way.

Women leading good lives in terms of having attained an acceptable education and enjoying some good socioeconomic status most often keep good families.

That is to say, if women were helped to overcome their present precarious situations, society would be full of people prepared enough to see to its progress.

This is why we agree with the United Nations (UN) on its theme for celebrating IWD 2024: ‘Invest in women: Accelerate progress.’

Even though women face a variety of problems, those in developed countries have better lives than those in poor or developing countries like Ghana.

We, therefore, wish the UN’s theme for IWD this year would appeal more to governments in developing countries to help improve women’s lives.

A good life for women means a good life for children, and the cycle continues, with the result being a prosperous nation.

We encourage women in privileged positions everywhere to highlight women’s needs, particularly those of the underprivileged, and agitate about them until governments meet them.

We know some of the needs could be country-specific, and so we encourage privileged Ghanaian women, for example, to play their roles effectively, such as fighting for the Affirmative Action Bill to be passed into law.

Once again, congratulations to women for celebrating IWD today.