Why I celebrate International Women's Day

I wrote a soppy little Facebook post recently to take a minute for International Women’s Day.*

I don’t know if I should really name it up as a celebration exactly.

There are many, many things that I feel simultaneously about this day:

• Anger: about the ongoing inequality that women experience globally

• Sheer rage: at the violence continually perpetrated at women, and the absolute inadequacy of the way we respond as a society to this

• Humbled: to know and be loved by amazing women who are my friends, family and ride or die people

• Proud: of the amazing women I know and their achievements

I found for me it’s a moment to reflect on some of the aims about accelerating equality for women.

This is something I’m passionate about, in many parts of my life - but also through my role as a performer, producer and teacher in our burlesque community.

One of the consistent themes I’ve witness in my 12 or so years in this industry alone, is the perpetual stereotypes that women continue to be bombarded with.

In burlesque, we can be an absolute force for change and push against this idea that there is one kind of version of sexy or attractive or sexual.

I meet so many women, particularly through my role as a teacher, that have been ingrained with one idea of sexy or beautiful that has been repeated to them from such a young age.

The notion that sex appeal belongs to only one body type, age, shape, size or ethnicity.

They have so many people in their personal lives, in the media and in society sharing images and messages saying that you basically aren't good enough.

Or that it's only when you look a certain way that you will be valued.

I meet you and I hear you, and I feel for you.

Because everyone has had that experience and has at some point been defined and put in a box.

I encourage everyone to keep actively challenging those negative voices - internally and externally.

Continue to support each other and become each other’s cheerleaders. Or start to mat -talk yourself like Jerry in Cheer.

As I think about International Women’s Day, one of my big aims is that we continue to challenge these existing stereotypes. And that all the amazing people I come into contact with start to see themselves as amazing, whole humans connected together. That sexiness, sexuality can be for your own enjoyment. That your age, shape, size, ethnicity or face is not the most interesting or defining thing about you.

#EachforEqual #IWD2020

*I’m not going into the multitude of reasons why I think in general International Women’s Day is important, but I’ll also take the time to say - yes there is an International Men’s Day (19 November)