International Women’s Day (IWD) has a rich history dating back to the early 1900s, when women, fed up with systemic oppression, began to organize for change. In 1908, 15,000 women marched in New York City, demanding fair wages, reasonable working hours, and voting rights. They sought respect and recognition for their contributions—issues that resonate even today.
As society progressed, so did the fight for body autonomy and reproductive rights. The focus broadened from mere existence of rights to ensuring those rights are equally accessible to everyone, regardless of gender. Terms such as feminism, gender parity, and gender equality emerged as tools to challenge sexism and misogyny. However, even among well-meaning groups, there’s a concerning oversight: the assumption that gender is binary.
Gender parity is often defined by measurable outcomes, like income and education rates, but true equality encompasses more than numbers. It involves recognizing biases and stereotypes that influence how people are treated. Unfortunately, many feminist movements often overlook the realities of transgender and non-binary individuals, focusing solely on cisgender women.
For IWD to be truly impactful, it must embrace transgender and non-binary individuals. Trans women are women, and their participation in conversations about women’s rights should be unquestionable. Conversely, trans men also deserve support on IWD; they may face challenges in male spaces due to prejudice, yet they often share experiences of discrimination that bind them with women.
It’s critical to acknowledge that many trans men and non-binary individuals have reproductive organs traditionally associated with women. They, too, require access to healthcare and reproductive services. This underscores the need for inclusive language that recognizes all individuals with uteruses, ensuring that everyone, regardless of gender identity, has access to safe and affirming care.
This year’s theme for International Women’s Day is #ChoosetoChallenge. I urge everyone to view this day not only as a call for equality but for equity and inclusivity. How can we claim to empower women if we continue to exclude transgender individuals? If women’s rights encompass bodily autonomy, why aren’t we fighting against the policing of transgender bodies? The violence against transgender individuals, particularly Black transgender women, must be a focal point of our advocacy.
Gender equality must expand beyond traditional binaries. Including transgender and non-binary individuals in the celebration of IWD doesn’t diminish the significance of womanhood; rather, it strengthens our collective fight against patriarchy. Otherwise, it merely becomes a day to celebrate cisgender women, inadvertently marginalizing those who don’t fit neatly into those categories.
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In summary, International Women’s Day must evolve to include the voices of all gender identities. This inclusive approach not only enriches the conversation around gender equality but also strengthens the fight against systemic oppression. Embracing diversity in gender identities is vital for a truly equitable society.