I am woman, hear me....

 It's International Women's day. This day means many things to many people. It's also a day I have internally, and sometimes externally, struggled with for many years. When I finally came to terms with the difference between equality, equity, and privilege, the day made more sense to me.

Equality is giving everyone the same thing; equity is giving everyone what they need to succeed. Equality works though, when everyone has the same starting place and needs the same things to be successful. And in dominant cultures, equality based approaches to fairness may work when there aren’t a large degree of inequities impeding success. This is why equity based approaches—where systemic and cultural differences are included in resolutions—seem unfair to dominant cultural members who rely on universal rules, meritocracy, and one-size-fits-all approaches in addressing problems. It’s also why the concept of privilege strikes many as unacceptable and an assault on their hard work and values.

For the most part, in my Caucasian, western upbringing, I was afforded the same opportunities and/or privileges as my male counterparts so the equity and privilege part were covered. I've also always made sure I've been seen as their equal, however, the equality is something I'm still made to question, and prove, over and over.

You see, as a woman in a man's world, we are forced, yes forced, to demonstrate we belong there, more so than even the most incapable and inept man. I've been "fortunate" as the workplace is the only place I've ever felt the need to do this. Imagine feeling this way, and having to prove yourself, from the moment you're born. Being scorned, disrespected, beaten, penalized, and even murdered because you were born with a vagina. THIS RIGHT HERE is why I choose to recognise International Women's Day....not because I'm a man-hating feminazi but because I truly believe in the meaning of, and understand the words equity, equality, and privilege on a worldwide scale.

To all the women in my life... I love you, I respect you, and I see you. We may not share the same struggles but we know what it's like to struggle.

#internationalwomensday