Write a commentThe Democratic Action Women’s Network (DAWN) and Indivisible Oswego County will hold a peaceful protest in Oswego to Line the Bridge this International Women’s Day (March 8) at 10am.
International Women’s Day recognizes the work that has been and still needs to be done to empower women and girls to achieve full equity with men. Founded in 1911, IWD includes everyone who cares about women's equality. It’s a day to celebrate women's achievements, raise awareness about discrimination, and take action to forge gender parity—particularly for women who are marginalized in other ways, such as by race, sexual orientation, disability status, and income level.
In societies worldwide, men often have control over women in many aspects of life, including politics, economics, and culture.
Even in Oswego County, women are more likely to live in poverty than men. Median earnings for men in Oswego County ($42,064) are nearly twice that of female median earnings ($26,684). This can lead to (or be a symptom of) unhealthy power dynamics and even financial abuse within relationships.
Financial setbacks make it more difficult for women to meet basic needs like food security and impact their ability to make informed healthcare decisions. Women are often paid less than men for the same work and still earn only 84 percent of what men earn in the US. And this rate goes down even further for women of color. Women may have difficulty securing funds to start businesses and may have fewer legal protections regarding property ownership than men.
Many women also experience sexual and gender-based violence. It is estimated that 91 percent of the victims of rape and sexual assault are women. Discrimination and harassment occur in the workplace and in the public sphere as a result of societal norms that favor male leadership.
It is important to provide women and girls with access to quality education and training. Creative and artistic talents should be promoted in the same way as men. Women and girls should be able to participate and achieve in sports on parity with men.
Women often have limited access to opportunities for career advancement. Worldwide, there may be ingrained legal and policy frameworks that discriminate against women. Many of these inequalities, largely unchanged for generations, are harmful to the very communities that enforce them. International Women’s Day supports women and girls in leadership roles, in business and beyond, so that they can be an active part of building better communities.
The world is experiencing new and overlapping crises and the erosion of rights. At home, people are concerned that women’s rights will continue to erode due to legislation like the SAVE Act, which makes voting more difficult for married women who have changed their name. This act is currently being considered by the House and was cosponsored by CNY’s representative, Claudia Tenney.
The world cannot afford to step back, and neither can we.
The Democratic Action Women’s Network (DAWN) and Indivisible Oswego County will hold a peaceful protest in Oswego, NY called Line the Bridge on Saturday, March 8 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Participants are invited to stand on Bridge Street between East 1st St. and West First S. with signs bearing their message. This event is for anyone who cares about women here and abroad.
We invite everyone to join us for Line the Bridge and stand up for women’s rights.
For more information or to join the next meeting of DAWN, please email Lisa at [email protected]. For those interested in Indivisible Oswego County, you can contact them at [email protected]; their next meeting will take place at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Fulton on Saturday, March 1, at 1pm.
