Feminism, of course

I hope many of you celebrated The International Women’s Day today, in one way or the other. Congratulations to all, anyway. For the first time in years I went to town for 8 March, and to my surprise there were lots of people.

I have been a feminist since my teens. That is a person who believes in social, political and economic equality. It is not about behaving like a man, as some say, or hating men. In fact meny men are feminsts too of course. I believe the world will be better with equal rights. At least more affluent. A couple of years ago our prime minister told that the women’s efforts in our work force is of greater importance than the oil industry, and we have a lot of oil.

In one way we Scandinavian women have it all. We have education, we have equal rights, and all kinds of positions. But still, women in general have less pay than men, we have less property, there is still sexual violence, and young women feels more pressure than ever to look “right”. But what is this considering the millions of girls who get no education at all, that gets “married” as children, and have nothing to say, never.

This year there were a big discussion in the media the day before 8 March. One politician from the liberal-conservatives accused the womens movement to be sort of selfish, forgetting the women who have little or no eqality at all. Some of them have moved to Norway and other European countries in recent years. That is a big discussion. One that we need to face in years to come, without getting angry with each other. It is too important.

One of the bravest women in Norway today is Amal Aden (32). She came as a refugee from Somalia as a child. Alone. As an outspoken lesbian Muslim she lives with death threats, but she still have much to say. “Many women lives very well in Norway, but equality and freedom of speech does not apply to everyone. The developement does not go in the right direction. More and more young girls think it’s fine that a man can have several wives. I meet constantly young girls who fear the summer holidays and to be sent out of the country to be married against their will.”

I hope the Women’s Day next year will be more aware of these critical issuse. Except for that, I am so happy there are still many people around who want the world to improve. Equal rights is one way to make it happen. There are more photos on this link.