8 Things I want my daughter to know about March 8

I wrote this one in 2019, when my daughter was 8-years-old. It's exciting to see that in such a short time International Women's Day has shown its own kind of progress.

I'm still proud that Kidspot choose to publish it and hope you see its place amongst the IWD talk.

8 Things I want my daughter to know about March 8

International Women's Day has sat pretty quietly in the March 8 space of the Australian calendar for nearly one hundred years. We see it now, but as a kid, it was as foreign as Sushi was. It was as unheard of as riding your bike without Spokey-Dokeys.  But I want my kids to know the day. Not as a day where women wear pink and have scones and tea, but to know that it's a day that matters.

I want my 8-year-old daughter to know that International Women's Day is about her.

1. It has history dating back to 1909.

Beginning in New York City, before it became the back drop to Sesame Street or every other Rom-Com, when women were fighting for their rights to fairer pay and working conditions. It resonated internationally, and started a powerful female voice. The colours of International Women's Day are specific. Purple, for power and ambition. Green, for dignity, hope and justice. And white, was historically used for purity -- a colour that has since been KonMari-ed right out.

2. It recognises the unjust that women and girls have endured and the severity of what some are still fighting to change. Going to school, speaking freely; these weren't the norm for the girls who share my daughters blood-line, or  for many girls around the world today.

3. That men and women are not equal, in that we are not the same.

We naturally have different roles, identities and strengths, and that is not a bad thing.  We are not in competition to be better than men and boys, the goal is to be treated and respected equally.

4. With choice and freedom, comes responsibility.  

Yes, we can wear what we want, say what we want and do whatever we want, but all choices have impact. There is a difference in 'could' and 'should' and that could also be the difference in creating real change.

5. She can marry or NOT marry, whoever she wants.

6. That she is a feminist, and so am I.

As is her brother, her dad, her uncle, her best friend, her Nanna, and her teacher. And it's not a dirty word. We all want people treated fairly and be loved and safe and happy. That is equality, and feminism is equality.

7. Voting is a privilege and a power. 

As she grows, I will teach her to vote big and vote mindfully, not just tick one box and have a sausage sandwich.

8. Life is not fair, but that she has every right to challenge the things that can be changed. It requires courage, but there is no reason why she can't be that person who stands up to call out something that isn't right.

We women have come a long way and, in Australia, generally thrive. But the relevance of March 8 is that it recognises the path which was painstakingly laid so women can live their lives outside of a man's shadow. We can bare arms, and thighs, work 8-hour days as a diesel mechanic with pink hair, and be single, if we so desire. Furthermore, if someone hurts us for any of this, it's illegal.

International Women's Day is a day to make noise about. To raise our girls to not only believe they can be who they want to be, but to support the changes in this world that will allow them to be those people. So they can be a respected mum if they want; a world renowned astronaut, or, the true challenge, both.

Image by Brooke Mallard Photography @swoonapparel