MY CONTRIBUTION TO IWD'S #CHOOSETOCHALLENGE
⌛By: Isabella Mershon⌛
On March 8, the world celebrated International Women’s Day. For myself, it was a chance to reflect on and appreciate the work and accomplishments of so many women. To think that approximately 100 years ago, women were first granted the right to vote; and this year, the first woman was sworn in as Vice President of the United States. Although, women everywhere have tirelessly fought and accomplished more than people thought possible, the battle is not yet over. Because women today continue to face many injustices, it is important to continue the fight for equality. The American feminist writer Audre Lorde said it best:
“I am not free while any woman is unfree, even when her shackles are very different than my own.”
This year’s theme for International Women’s Day was #choosetochallenge. This website states,
“We can all choose to challenge and call out gender bias and inequality. We can all choose to seek out and celebrate women's achievements. Collectively, we can all help create an inclusive world.”
It is easy to reflect on all the wins women continue to have throughout history, but let us get uncomfortable and dive into the causes of injustices women face every day.
Gender Pay Gap
On average, women’s salaries are less than men’s salaries. For full-time workers, women earn approximately 82 cents for every dollar a white male earns. This inequity means women’s annual salary is, on average, around $10,000 less than male workers’ salaries. The discrepancy in pay increases with women of color, working mothers, women with less education, women with disabilities, and older women.
Many people can agree that this wage gap is discriminatory. Historically, there are a variety of factors that have contributed to the gender pay gap. Women are less likely to be hired into high-paying positions, women are more likely to be hired for lower-paying jobs, and women are often paid less in comparison to men working the same job.
Another factor contributing to the gender pay gap is the lack of support for working mothers. Working mothers often have the burden of childcare costs and needing time off work for maternity leave. If employers do not provide support for these situations, many women face being forced out of the workplace.
What can society do to close the gender gap? Because women hold a larger percentage of lower-paying jobs, raising the minimum wage may help alleviate some of the wage inequities. Other methods for closing the wage gap would be to offer support and resources to women so that more of them may enter male-dominated fields. In addition, strengthening equal pay laws, fighting for affordable childcare, working to fight discrimination against mothers in the workforce, establishing adequate paid absences, etc., may help to close the gender wage gap. Lastly, it is important to vote more women into positions of power so that they may become advocates for all women as they address their issues and concerns.
For more information on the gender pay gap, click here.
Media Portrayal
Society’s thoughts and perceptions of groups and cultures are often subconsciously shaped by the media. The continuous portrayal of women as supporting characters to men, as crazy girlfriends or wives, as comedic relief, etc., continues to create gender stereotypes. To begin with, women’s bodies are the focus of many discussions. After watching Anne Hathaway’s interview about her experience with filming the movie The Dark Knight Rises, I found myself appalled. As seen in the interview, the male actor was asked “quality” questions about the film; whereas, the interviewer appeared to be more interested in Anne Hathaway’s diet and how concerned she was with being thin and fit for her costume — as if all women only care about how they look. After Anne sets a boundary, in a joking way, concerning the type of questions she was being asked, the interviewer ends the interview by asking if her wedding will be in the summer. The reporter, like many people, is more concerned with Anne’s relationship status and her body than her work. I was proud that actress Anne Hathaway stood up for herself and set a boundary to show young girls and women that we are more than our bodies.
Something I have struggled with my whole life is my body image. In high school especially, I would see models with no fat on their bodies, the perfect tone, and no apparent imperfections. Even though I played two sports, was a size 6-8, and perfectly healthy, I was comparing myself to the women who were labeled “pretty” by the media. I would regularly go on “fad diets” that promised to help one lose weight quickly. I tried to limit my calorie intake to 1,200 calories or less, and I obsessed over working out in order to burn extra calories. I now know how unhealthy this behavior was for my mental health, but all I could focus on then was becoming skinny.
Over the weekend, I re-watched the movie Pitch Perfect, which was one of my favorite movies when I was younger. I found myself disturbed at some of the underlying messages. The two leaders of the female-acapella group the “Bellas,” were looking for “skinny, pretty girls” to join their group. They eventually had to lower their expectations and let people who did not fit their ideal image into the group. They labeled a girl who dressed in darker colors and had piercings as “goth,” and the name of a character in the movie is literally “Fat Amy.” This type of labeling may seem harmless, but it just re-enforces preconceptions of what women should look like. When young girls compare themselves either to the images being promoted or the characters being mocked in movies or other types of media, it can be very detrimental to these young girls’ mental health and overall image of themselves.
I am not an expert, but with my own journey of self-love I have learned some practices that have helped me. Anytime I am feeling insecure or inadequate, I stop and speak positive affirmations to myself. When I am able to pause and remind myself that I am enough, (whether it is related to my school work, my body, or something else) these affirmations aid me to keep going. Another practice I have learned is to avoid the scale. There were days when I would weigh myself multiple times to ensure I would not go over a certain number on the scale. It is okay to track your weight in a healthy way, but if it becomes an obsession I recommend taking a break from using a scale. Lastly, I recommend being kind to yourself. As women, our bodies are constantly changing. Do not miss out on memories and opportunities because you fear that your looks are inadequate. Wear the shirt that you love but stuck in the back of the closet because you did not like how it fit, put on your swimsuit and enjoy time outside with friends and family, wear shorts when it is hot out even if your stretch marks and cellulite show — I promise that no one is critiquing you like you are critiquing yourself.
In Conclusion
The first step to fighting and rectifying any type of injustice is to be aware of these injustices. It is important that we become educated concerning the treatment of women and other groups. We also need to become aware of possible personal biases, and even call ourselves out for these biases. In the past, I have set boundaries and stood up for women whenever I witnessed sexist behavior. Because of it, I have been labeled “problematic” or been told to “relax, it’s just a joke.” I continue to stand up for myself and other women in order to enable young girls and anyone else to see that it is okay to stand up against injustice. We should be teaching girls everywhere that it is NOT okay to accept poor treatment instead of telling them to be quiet and smile. On this International Women’s Day, I commend the women like Elizabeth Blackwell, who was the first woman to graduate medical school (1849); Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who was a bartender and became the youngest woman (29) to be elected into congress (2019); and Sarah Thomas, who became the first woman to referee an NFL Super Bowl (2021). On this International Women’s Day, I commend all women because each of us walk a unique journey filled with different obstacles as we continue to refuse to give up the fight for equality.
Isabella Mershon is a third year communications student at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio. She hopes that her drive along with her passion for leadership and advocacy will help promote success in her career and make a difference in the lives of those around her. Connect with her on LinkedIn!