Happy International Women's Day?

Women around the world celebrated International Women's Day by holding protests demanding their rights and equality. Some simply gathered and held signs stating their demands and concerns, while others dressed up as men to bring attention to their message (Lebanon). Looking back on the day and the success of the women's protests, however, simply shows just how far reaching it is to request the simplest of rights.

Women in the Democratic Republic of Congo called for the end of systematic rapes that have been used as a weapon by armed groups, especially in the East. "At least 8,300 rapes were reported in 2009. Aid workers say the true toll is much higher." -AP There were no reports of any mistreatment during the protests.

However, in Sudan, women also held anti-rape protests. Riot police showed up and 42 of them were arrested during the peaceful demonstration. Here, the state abused its power and completely overlooked the non-political message that the women were attempting to portray. The women are yet to be released.

And then we have Egypt, fresh off of its January 25th revolution high. One would think, with the number of women who participated during the revolution, that women would be allowed a stronger voice in how the country would now grant them more rights. Unfortunately, that was far from the case. Women protesters in Cairo were met with hecklers shouting  things like "go back to the house where you belong". Some were chased and even groped/ sexually harassed during and after the protests, not by security officials, but by the same men who stood by them side by side during the revolution. Sexual harassment has always been an issue in Egypt in recent history, yet despite the new feeling of calm in Cairo, old habits die hard and some attitudes are slow to change.

And so, on the 100th anniversary of International Women's Day, First Lady Michelle Obama stated that we, as women, have come a long way and she is correct in saying this. One hundred years ago even women in America could not yet vote and now there are female leaders throughout the world exhibiting their bravery and proving their right to be equals. So in the weeks following International Women's Day, let us remember the women who bravely paved the way to fight for our rights throughout the world and let us also keep in mind the women in Africa and the Middle East who still fight daily just for the chance to assert their equality.