A Day Without A Woman: Do we really need to go on strike to prove our worth on Women's Day?

Feminism has been the most liberating word for me in these times. It is most liberating because we’re somewhere between moving past the extreme patriarchy and chauvinism that our grandmothers were subjected to but we’re still far behind the destination we aim to reach. 

A day after the inauguration of US President Donald Trump, a ‘Women’s March’ galvanised women across the globe to protest against the blatant misogyny of the new President and his administration's views on civil, human and reproductive rights. Now on International Women’s Day, the organisers have thrown their voice behind 'A Day Without A Woman’, a movement that seeks to show the vital role women play in both the domestic and global economy. It aims to “recognize the enormous value that women of all backgrounds add to our socio-economic system—while receiving lower wages and experiencing greater inequities, vulnerability to discrimination, sexual harassment, and job insecurity.”  

It is asking people to participate in either of the following ways:
- Women to take the day off, from paid and unpaid labour
- Avoid shopping for one day (with exceptions for small, women and minority owned business)
- Wear Red in solidarity with the movement

Where in the world are you participating in #DayWithoutAWoman on 3/8? Let us know! pic.twitter.com/aQKaQaaLuM — Women's March (@womensmarch) March 7, 2017

But would these steps really achieve anything? It is ironical that women would not turn up at work in protest and in the same breath also ask equal pay and work opportunities.

Critics may argue that the worth of something or someone is often realised in its absence, but we have trailblazers like Facebook COO Sheryl Sandler, Federal Reserve Chief Janet Yellen, SBI chairman Arundhati Bhattacharya and PepsiCo’s Indira Nooyi amongst the brigade who are leading by example. None of them rode on the piggyback of nepotism or crony capitalism. They did not choose to harm their work in protest for what they deserve, they chose to work and prove themselves to walk up the ladder. 

Of course, Sandler and Nooyi may be amongst the top 1% of successful women executives. In India, the lack of education and job opportunities along with societal pressure keeps women from even entering the workforce. And if they do, the struggle continues as there are various forces that prevent women from breaking the glass ceiling. According to the United States Census Bureau Statistic, women working full-time are paid 20% less than what men are paid. A survey showed that in India, women earn 25% less than men. In 2015, a Huffington Post article said that one in three women between the ages of 18-34 have been sexually harassed at work. Even at home, male and female roles are so naturally ingrained in our minds that its difficult to spot the chasm at times. We are so used to seeing our mothers stand and serve everyone in the house, we overlook how it has shaped our view on the way an Indian household largely functions. 

So while I agree that there is a need to fight for equal rights, 'A Day Without A Woman' comes across as elitist in its approach since not everyone has the privilege to not turn up at work. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2014, 62.8% of Americans who earned the minimum wage or even less, were women.

A protest like this may even place more burden on working parents. In United States, over 300 female teachers asked if they could take the day off to observe the strike. While children would rejoice at the idea of not attending school, one may argue that instead of shutting schools down, the day could have been used to focus and make students aware of the skewed gender ratio in fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Office goers could show their solidarity towards the movement by addressing the issue at work places instead of not choosing to show up in office at all. 

Having said this, there could still be those who would make a case for the power of a mass rebellion. Women’s voting rights, the anti-apartheid movement, French revolution and India’s independence have all stemmed from the power of the people. One cannot complain about things if you haven't raised a rallying cry against injustice. But the solution is not to conduct a one-day strike at the cost of halting the functioning of schools, hospitals and other workplaces. The point is to address the inequalities where they occur, and do it in a political and legal manner. 

The Economic Times recently reported that 70% of working women don't report workplace sexual harassment in fear of the repercussions. The struggle may not be easy, but it is imperative to strike while the iron is hot. The idea is to relentlessly, incessantly and fearlessly strike for what you want. Like Marjane Satrapi wrote in Persepolis, “A revolution is like a bicycle. When the wheels don’t turn, it falls.”

Let this Women’s Day mark a change for all those enduring inequality and sexism at the workplace and those who struggle with household chores and taking care of kids because of gender stereotypes. Let this day unshackle the chains of sexism, sexual abuse, abasement, colour prejudice and conformity. Let this day mark our rise and keep the wheels turning, in a progressive direction.