How Will You #EmbraceEquity on International’s Women’s Day? #IWD2023

Today March 8 is International Women’s Day, “a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women.” While we have much to celebrate, we have a way to go to achieve parity and equity. To understand why this is important, the theme for this year’s  International Women’s Day is #EmbraceEquity: “The IWD 2023 #EmbraceEquity campaign theme is to get the world talking about Why equal opportunities aren’t enough. People start from different places, so true inclusion and belonging require equitable action. Read more about this here.” And participate! 

Economically, while women have made progress, in the United States women make 77 cents to every $1 that men make. For women of color that is even less. Punk icon Alice Bag, author of Violence Girl. addresses this in her video “77”:

Here are the lyrics:

LYRICS
77 77, 77, 77
I make 77 cents on the dollar
It’s not fair and it makes me want to holler
You work hard but I work harder to catch where you are, gotta push myself farther
I asked my landlord for discount rent
He said “Oh no little lady, pay 100%”

77, 77, 77

I make 77 cents and it’s not right it’s bad for women and worse if you’re not white
You’re head of household, so am I
It’s not just about me,
I still need to provide
I cash my check, wonder where it went
I try to stretch it out but it’s all been spent
But it’s time, it’s time
(Ooh, ooh, ooh),
It’s time, it’s time
(Ooh, ooh, ooh)
It’s time, it’s time
(ooh, ooh, ooh)
Time for change
I’m gonna yell it!
I’m gonna march!
I’ll cast my ballot!
No, I’m not gonna settle for 77, 77, 77
That makes 77, 23 cents shy
Let’s right our aim until we hit the bullseye
Don’t pretend, we’re paid equal
You wrote the script but I’m writing the sequel

The 77 video features Kathleen Hanna (punk zine writer and the lead singer of feminist punk band Bikini Kill and Le Tigre) and Allison Wolfe  (lead vocalist for several punk rock groups including Bratmobile and Partyline) with Special Guests Seth Bogart and Shirley Manson and directed by Scott Stuckey with an ON SCREEN BAND with Alice Bag, Lysa Flores, Sharif Dumani, Candace Pk Hansen, and David O. Jones. 

Alice Bag’s autobiography Violence Girl is being read by some students in both of my classes, and one group of students has invited her to ZOOM in with us for a reading and possible performance in April. Stay tuned! 

Learn more about Alice and order Alice Bag’s ‘Blue Print’ https://lnk.to/alicebag Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AliceBag/ Website: http://alicebag.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/AliceBag Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alice_bag/ 

What will you do to #EmbraceEquity?