Jessica Head Are Women Equal and Who Cares? March is a celebration of women, past present and future.

It is controversial that one month out of the calendar year has been set aside to honor the accomplishments of roughly one half of man kinds population. Allow for the sake of this article that women and men are innately different creatures, with distinctive software. The philanthropist in me oscillates between optimism and cynicism when reflecting on the leaps forward or the bounds backward of recognition of women in society. On one hand, I feel pride. I think glorious thoughts of the mental and emotional superiority I enjoy as a female, individually and as part of a collective gender. On the other I ask myself, is it enough? I think of the pain that women all over the globe must endure for equal opportunities and an equal voice and of how the mental and physical faculties of women are put into question on a daily basis despite the fact that they overcome overwhelming obstacles every day without objection. Some of you may think that the latter statements fall precariously into the category of my own biased opinion, as a woman. Let me convince you otherwise. It is known that strength arises from triumph over pain and suffering. Women throughout history have habitually been allowed little more than their own thoughts as their possessions. Strong and weak women alike have been beaten and forced into submission socially, politically, physically, and sexually. Even in our progressive society each woman feels the echo of this history, perhaps when they are cooking dinner or washing dishes, or watching the latest rap star degrade them with their words and racy videos. We empathize with the women in less progressive societies who must be silent and keep themselves covered. So we think and feel, but we do not complain because most of us do

not feel empowered to do so. We do not seek retribution because we lack the confidence to stand up for ourselves. Our power lies in our minds, which is why men fear arguing with women and why I say that women enjoy mental and emotional superiority, even if they often to do not realize it for themselves. March 8th was the 100th anniversary of International Womens Day. Although hardly recognized in the U.S., many countries set this day aside to lavish praises and gifts upon the women of their nation amidst colorful festivities. The cynic in me rebels against this restitution, refusing to believe that gifts and limited honor can replace the satisfaction of unquestioned equality. As Americans, however, become more apathetic toward the equality of women, the movement inspired by IWD is gaining momentum in other areas of the globe. One article in Reuters elucidates this new movement: Many from a younger generation feel that 'all the battles have been won for women' while many feminists from the 1970's know only too well the longevity and ingrained complexity of patriarchy. The self-esteem and self worth of women has undoubtedly suffered and will continue to suffer until the fulfillment of their dream. Women must be taught that they are worthy and deserving of respect. Womens empowerment is a necessary evil. If women had not been made to feel inferior to men for countless generations, the cry of womens empowerment would be less familiar than it is already and I would not be writing this article. Every student, male and female, must decide what the empowerment of women means to him or her. Simple reflection of the issue honors every woman alive, dead, and yet to be born.