International Women’s Day: Progress, Pitfalls, and the Power of Womanhood
Every year, on 8th March, the world pauses (or at least pretends to) to acknowledge women—their struggles, victories, and everything in between. International Women’s Day (IWD) has evolved from its early 20th-century roots of demanding suffrage and workers' rights to a global movement that now includes hashtags, high-budget marketing campaigns, and “feminist” discounts at retail stores.
Yet, behind the girl-power slogans and corporate nods to diversity, the reality of womanhood remains complex, beautiful, and, at times, downright exhausting.
So this year, let’s unpack what this day should truly mean—without the fluff, but with a touch of humour (because, quite frankly, if we don’t laugh at the absurdities of it all, we might cry).
From the Picket Line to Pink-Washed PR Stunts
International Women’s Day began with fire—literally. The 1911 Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire in New York, where 146 workers (mostly women) lost their lives due to horrific working conditions, was a catalyst for the women’s labour movement. Suffrage was another battleground, as women fought to be recognised as more than just extensions of their fathers and husbands.
Fast forward to today, and IWD is now a carefully curated social media spectacle. Companies that pay women less than their male colleagues will post about “empowering women.” Celebrities will give “boss babe” speeches while continuing to conform to unrealistic beauty standards. And if you’re lucky, you might even get a 10% discount on a product that’s already pink-taxed.
Of course, there has been undeniable progress—women are now CEOs, heads of state, entrepreneurs, and leaders in their fields. I often wonder how much of this progress is down to dog-eared determination and fairness, as opposed to corporate DEI box-ticking when the same structures keep women underpaid and undervalued. But this leads to a bigger question:
What exactly are we celebrating? The illusion of equality, or the actual breaking down of systemic barriers?
Society’s Love-Hate Relationship with Women
Women have always been caught in the ultimate paradox—society praises our resilience while simultaneously designing systems that keep us struggling.
Strong women are celebrated—until they demand power and justice. A woman who asserts herself is “too aggressive,” while a man doing the same is “a natural leader.”
Motherhood is glorified—until a mother actually needs support. There’s pressure to have children, but once she does, the world conveniently forgets about parental leave, mental health, and the “village” needed to raise them, and she becomes the less favourable candidate or the one “letting the side down.”
Female sexuality is either weaponised or suppressed. Society swings between hypersexualising women and shaming them for desiring pleasure on their own terms.
Faith communities revere women—until they challenge the status quo. Women serve, nurture, and keep churches running, but when they dare to question toxic theology or demand a seat at the table, they become “rebellious.”
This never-ending requirement to be simultaneously more and less of just about everything creates additional conflict and pressure on already overworked and undervalued women. It seems the world wants women to be powerful—but only in ways that don’t threaten existing power structures.
While women’s bodies are being more celebrated than ever before for their uniqueness of size, shape, and colour, the very essence of what makes us women (and I can say US, because I AM A WOMAN) is becoming increasingly blurred.
Women, Well-being, and Worn-Out Expectations
As an integrative, holistic psychosexual and relationship therapist, I see first-hand how gendered expectations shape women’s experiences in relationships, intimacy, and mental health.
Emotional labour is real. Women are expected to be therapists to their partners, counsellors to their friends, and caregivers to their families—all while holding down careers and remembering birthdays.
Sexuality remains a battleground. Between religious purity narratives and media-driven hypersexualisation, women are left navigating guilt, shame, or unrealistic expectations.
Burnout is gendered. Women juggle multiple roles—worker, mother, partner, daughter, friend—while the pressure to "do it all" leads to chronic stress and exhaustion. A recent report suggested that approximately 50% of working women feel stressed, compared to 40% of men.
And yet, women are still blamed for not “leaning in” enough, not “manifesting” their dream life, or not being “grateful” for what they have.
Let’s be honest—this is madness.
The Sacredness of Womanhood vs. The Fluidity of Gender
For centuries, womanhood was seen as deeply embodied—rooted in biology, shaped by culture, and defined by experiences like menstruation, childbirth, and menopause. But with gender identity becoming more fluid, some argue that womanhood is not just a biological reality but also a self-defined identity. Where being a woman was once clear, new reductive terms such as “vulva owner,” “birthing person,” “uterus-owner,” or “menstruator” have become common. Are we glossing over the dehumanisation and erasure of women that they connote?
Language is powerful, and how we talk about women, gender, and biology shapes social policies, healthcare, and identity politics. The key is finding language that is both inclusive and respectful of women’s experiences, without erasing or reducing them.
This raises a crucial question: Can womanhood be both sacred and fluid?
Cisgender women have historically faced oppression due to their bodies, reproductive functions, and systemic gender roles, not just their identity. Should we thank gender fluidity for the way it has challenged the rigid boxes society has forced on us for centuries, or should those cries have been heard from the women of 1911 (and those before them)? Instead of seeing these perspectives as competing, perhaps the real challenge is honouring both the biological realities of womanhood and the lived experiences of trans women—without erasing either.
I must admit that for me, trans women and cis women will always be different because our experiences, our bodies, and our very essence are fundamentally different. They should be celebrated and honoured as unique and distinct; as valuable and powerful; as different, yet equally worthy of dignity and respect. Womanhood carries depth, history, and sacredness. The power of womanhood is not in erasing differences—women have always made space for women—but in honouring the struggles that have defined each journey and creating space for truth without fear of erasure.
Rather than forcing sameness, we should embrace the richness of these differences, allowing each to stand in its own light without diminishing the other.
Compromise or Conflict? Finding Common Ground
The debate over trans women in female-only spaces is one of the most polarising issues in modern feminism. Some argue that redefining womanhood undermines sex-based rights, while others insist that excluding trans women from the movement is discrimination.
So, is there middle ground? Maybe, if we move beyond ideological extremes.
Acknowledge that cis and trans women face different but overlapping struggles, rather than assuming their experiences are identical.
Maintain sex-specific spaces where necessary while also creating trans-inclusive spaces where appropriate. Both will ensure safety and sanctity for all involved while allowing for freedom to thrive.
Shift the conversation from "who is more oppressed?" to "how do we protect and empower both groups?"
Respect differing beliefs—inclusivity should not demand forced ideological alignment.
Progress isn’t about erasing differences; it’s about learning to hold space for them; celebrating them and championing their inalienable rights to BE! If any group can navigate complexity, it’s women.
Whose Women’s Day Is It, Anyway?
Now, we can’t talk about IWD without addressing the elephants in the room (yes, multiple):
The Feminism Divide – Radical feminism, liberal feminism, intersectional feminism—can we all get in a room and agree on something? The truth is, feminism, like WOMANHOOD is not a monolith. Sometimes I think that we forget that what liberation looks like for one woman may not resonate with another, especially across different cultures, classes, and religious beliefs.
The Gender Identity Debate – The conversation around who is included in the definition of “woman” has become deeply polarising. Some feel the movement is being co-opted, while others argue that inclusivity is non-negotiable. Regardless of where one stands, what’s clear is that this debate is shifting the landscape of women’s rights in ways that need thoughtful, not reactionary discussions. We need careful decision-making, not another tick-box pacifier.
Commercialisation & Corporate Hypocrisy – Nothing says “Happy International Women’s Day” like a company tweeting about gender equality while simultaneously firing a pregnant employee. The commodification of empowerment is a real issue—how do we ensure IWD remains about systemic change, not just inspirational quotes and #GirlBoss mugs?
So, Where Do We Go From Here?
International Women’s Day should not just be a celebration—it should be a call to action.
I suppose in many ways it starts with people like me and YOU being brave enough to challenge the status quo and speak out for the things we value and believe in and for truth rather than what the itching ears of modernity want.
If we are serious about empowering women, we must move beyond performative gestures and tackle the real issues:
Equity, not just equality. The goal isn’t just to give women access—it’s to restructure the systems that were never designed for us in the first place. We need true transformation, not institutional micro-adjustment.
Healing from internalised patriarchy. Women, too, can uphold toxic narratives that harm other women—whether through judgment, competition, or reinforcing limiting beliefs. If we are honest, we can look at our role in the whole sorry mess and take ownership toward repair and restoration. FORWARD not backwards is the way we progress.
Rethinking power. True empowerment isn’t about mirroring male dominance—it’s about creating new paradigms of leadership, intimacy, and holistic well-being. I’ve always seen women as powerful and I’ve never wanted equality. I am not equal to a man, I am different and it’s a truth I treasure. My nature means my capacity for creation is limitless in more ways than anatomy.
And let’s not forget the sacred nature of womanhood—not as a rigid, one-size-fits-all identity, but as somethin dynamic, and deeply personal.
So today, let’s raise a glass (or a cup of tea, if that’s your style) to every woman who has fought, endured, loved, and risen—despite it all.
We see you. We honour you. And the work continues.
Happy International Women’s Day.