It’s International Women’s Day today.

Some believe it’s time to stop celebrating International Women’s Day as it only creates hostility between genders.

But instead of focusing on the hostility, why don’t we see it as a day to celebrate how women’s rights have progressed so far, from being oppressed to having some freedom to choose? Some. Women are still not completely ‘free’.

While more and more girls and women have access to education, sadly millions of girls and women around the world still can’t access education. Furthermore, sexual violence, sex trafficking, honour killing, and dowry abuse are among the many unfairness for millions of women and girls globally.

The death of Mahsa Amini lately in 2022 is another tragic news of how oppressive a system is against women. Amini died in the custody of Iran’s “morality police”, where she was beaten over the hijab law as she was wearing her hijab too loosely.

I was once told by an elderly woman that being born a woman is a disadvantage as there are so many rules to follow to fit into society. I disagree. Being born a human who follows the toxic system is a disadvantage, whether you’re a woman or a man. It’s the system, not your gender, that is problematic.

“Enough talking about how unfair it is for women in third-world countries. What about women in first-world countries, Silvy? Don’t you think they have enough freedom and equality?” One may ask.

Of course, women in first-world countries are much braver and have much more freedom than their third-world counterparts. But there are still a few unpleasant gender stereotypes. Glass ceiling, for example, still exists. Up to a certain point, many women in their professional life often hit the glass ceiling due to gender stereotypes, that they are perceived as incompetent due to their gender instead of their true capability.

Another interesting issue is that these days women are encouraged to be braver, stronger and louder. I’m not against these qualities. If a woman wants to, and can, be braver, stronger, and louder, be my guest.

But what is counterproductive is that being braver, stronger and louder must also come with the strength to numb emotions, to toughen up and to not cry, things that have been shoved down men’s throats for ages, affecting their mental health and making them more prone to suicide.

I’m aware that my writing is all over the place now, talking about women’s oppression and suddenly talking about men’s suicidal tendency. But this is because gender issues have always been overwhelming. At times, it often seems like most people get tricked into assuming that gender discussion leads to gender war. It’s not. It shouldn’t be. Pointing fingers at the other gender and trying to mould people into a certain template based on certain gender characteristics do nothing but just inflicting more damage.

Still, I’d optimistically say yes, we are progressing.

While I agree that discussion about women’s liberation should happen whenever possible, not just once a year, I also see the point of why we still need International Woman’s Day. We need a special day to openly discuss the oppression against women that has happened for so long from the obvious to the not-so-obvious ones. A day to look at the progress and review how much more is to be done to achieve the ideal state.

And maybe one day, probably 3000 years from now, International Women’s Day may change into International Authenticity Day (maybe it should be merged with the 16-August National Authenticity Day), a day to review how far the progress is and how much more to go to achieve the ideal state of what humanity should be: equal rights and liberty for everyone to be the best version of themselves. Regardless of their gender.