Why do the days leading up to International Women’s Day fill me with anxiety? Why do I dread it more than I look forward to it?
Probably because I’m hit with invitations to IWD events like balls flying at me during a game of dodgeball. I feel pressured to attend, because as a feminist, shouldn’t I support women on the day that is globally recognised as being carved out for us to celebrate?
Shouldn’t I sit side by side with other women and sip champagne and exchange stories about our achievements, and marvel at how well other women are doing, and perhaps even steal some of their tips about how to survive as a woman in a man’s world?
I’m reticent about IWD in the way many of my female friends who are mothers have become reticent (some even loathsome) about Mother’s Day; sure, thanks for making mummy breakfast in bed and writing a nice card, but I’d rather you learn how to make dinner yourself every once in a while and clean up after yourself, they say.
This year, I thought I’d turn the dial towards the fantastical — and list some of the things I’d like for women if I had all the power in the world.
Here are my top wishes for IWD, and some bonuses … because I’m creating this list, so I get to set the rules.
Free sanitary products for women and girls worldwide — delivered to your door
For women and school aged students in New Zealand, Scotland and parts of Australia and the US, free sanitary products have already become a reality – though with various and differing caveats. In some places, you have to be in school to receive the products, or an educational institution. Elsewhere, you have to be below a certain income threshold.
Often, the products can only be collected at community centres or pharmacies, which makes it difficult for physically compromised people, or parents who are restricted by caring duties at home.
I want free sanitary products sent straight to the door of every person who menstruates — the same sort of monthly box of toilet paper one receives from Who Gives A Crap.
Universal childcare
Imagine a world where every single child, regardless of where they live and what their parents do, has access to high-quality early childhood education before they start school. Wouldn’t that be a beautiful world?
I’m not the first to make such a suggestion. Remember when former presidential candidate Senator Elizabeth Warren proposed universal childcare in 2019 during her campaign?
Tentative steps are already being taken to make this a reality in some parts of Australia, but in other parts, prices are soaring, making accessing childcare more challenging for families living in rural and regional parts of the country.
Last month, the federal government announced a Productivity Commission review, alongside a proposal for parents to receive up to 90 per cent of their childcare costs subsidised— a positive step towards providing universal, affordable care.
While we’re on this subject, almost all early educators are women, and, as The Parenthood’s Director Georgie Dent wrote today for this publication, “It remains the case that it’s the employment of mums that is disproportionately impacted when early learning isn’t available or affordable.”
“Early educators are among the lowest paid workers in Australia. It is the epitome of important valuable work being chronically undervalued and underpaid. Let’s show up for early educators and add our voices to their very reasonable demand to be paid fairly for the work they do.”
Homelessness crisis eradicated
One of the most under-reported crisis in our society is the escalating numbers of older women at risk of homelessness in Australia. A recent study from South Australia found that roughly 240,000 women across Australia aged 55 or older lack access to social housing.
An endemic of “hidden homelessness” is spreading, and older women are the largest group at risk. Sudden illness, death of a spouse, domestic violence and the added stress of the COVID-pandemic have all contributed to the rise in risk.
Two years ago, then-opposition leader, Anthony Albanese promised to deliver a $10 billion Housing Australia Future Fund, prioritising women and children fleeing violence, older women at risk of homelessness and frontline workers.
Last month, The Liberals and Nationals opposed the fund in Parliament, while The Greens proposed a $5 billion investment each year to social and affordable housing and $1 billion towards remote Aboriginal housing.
If the $10 billion Housing Australia Future Fund eventually gets underway, will it succeed in reaching its target of building 30,000 social and affordable homes over the next five years? Unlikely, according to some experts.
More money needs to be pumped into eradicating the crisis, especially as the primary causes of women’s homelessness are not just poverty and unaffordable rentals, but also gender violence and income inequality.
Domestic and family violence resources and funding
It’s always upsetting to turn our attention to any sort of violence, but it’s especially important on a day like today to call for a universal system of support for women who are or have been affected by these kinds of abuse. As rates of domestic violence continue to rise across parts of Australia, the government needs to continue injecting more money into resources and shelters.
With at least one woman killed each week in Australia, the nation is in dire need of reform.
Currently, the average cost of fleeing a domestic violence situation in Australia is $18,000. It’s clear that victim-survivors require crucial support in their attempts to secure a safe environment. After a decade-long union-led campaign, employees are now entitled to 10 days paid family and domestic violence leave.
However, the leave is only available to employees who work in a business with 15 or more employees. We need the government to expand that reach and ensure everyone, regardless of where they work, are entitled to such leave.
Other factors that need to be materially addressed include the mandatory establishment of cultural advice consultation among service providers working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families, altering the culture of father figures and their behaviours and creating integrated responses to keep women and children safe to minimise their post-separation risk.
Bonus Wishes
If I had a few extra wishes…
All new dads to take six months of parental leave
Every new father should be given paid paternal leave for the the first six months upon the arrival of a baby, alongside every new parent generally. And they should be forced to take it. If they work for themselves, the government should provide this package.
That way, dads will learn from the outset what it takes to raise a child. And then, hopefully, put more time in at home for the years that follow.
English syllabus in schools that are 60 per cent female authored
The English curriculum across primary and secondary schools across Australia should be curated to ensure that 60 per cent of the reading list are books authored by female, or non binary persons. Within those 60 per cent, a quarter should be written by black, brown, Asian, or CALD authors, a quarter by queer, non binary, trans-writers, a quarter by disabled or neurodivergent people, and the final quarter: books in translation.
I can’t imagine how much kinder, more generous and empathic we’d all be if we went through such a mandatory range of texts when we were kids.
Half of Hollywood movies to have female leads
Hollywood production studios should mandate at least fifty percent of the biggest budgets to movies with female leads. None of the top-grossing films of 2022 had female leads, and the most popular film of the last decade with a female lead was a children’s animation where one of the female leads can turn things into ice. Where are our Sarah Connors? Thelma and Louise? Kick-ass women who are given the complexity, nuance and humanity male characters have unquestionably been given?
Generous government-funded POC women initiatives
Portion a substantial amount of government funds every year to women-led and women-focused organisations that assist undocumented, migrant, recently arrived women from culturally diverse backgrounds.
All men to wear period pain stimulator, once a month for a whole year
I’d only recently had the revelation that every cis-male in the history of the world has been exempt from ever experiencing the pain.
I resent this fact. But what if we made them all wear a period pain cramps simulator once a month, every month, for an entire year? Would they empathise with our pain? Be sweeter to us, kinder to us, buy us ice cream and rub our feet voluntarily? Let’s give it a go.
If you’re a man and you’re reading this thinking “All these wishes just force men to do things we don’t want to do and this is oppression,” well, let me tell you mate — women have been putting up with a thousand things we’re forced to do that actually oppress us since forever – thanks to not just society but also, God, who made us bleed each month!