Naistenpäivänä puhutaanko vähän miehistä? / On women’s day, shall we talk about men for a bit?

8th March is International Women's Day! But shall we still talk about men for a bit?

There are many myths related to Finland! That gender equality exists in Finland is one of these myths, much like the one that suggests polar bears can be found here.

Finland is still one of the most challenging countries in Europe to be a woman. For example, intimate partner violence is still a big problem.

There are large differences in salaries between the genders. And solutions to this problem get further away due to recent law changes about salary increases.

Seen from an intersectional perspective, women belonging to minorities experience even more discrimination.

Racism and islamophobia affect the opportunities available to women belonging to ethnic minorities.

Increasing conservatism puts women belonging to sexual and gender minorities in dangerous situations.

Disabled women experience sexual harassment, for example in transportation services.

Cuts to social support have a negative effect on low-income women and single mothers.

Sounds dismal! Can anything be done about this injustice? Yes, but only if all of us get to work, especially those benefiting from patriarchy, that is men!

What? Can't women and others take care of this themselves? Is it necessary to shift the responsibility to men? Yes! Because if the group benefiting from discrimination is not ready to challenge oppressive structures, there is no point in expecting gender equality to become a reality!

In other words, if we men are not ready to be part of the solution, we unfortunately are giving our silent approval to the problem! Let us men be feminists! Let us do our best to advance gender equality! Happy Women's Day to everyone in equal measure!