Happy International Women’s Day, Homos!

It is March 8, 2011! Do you know what day that is? It’s International Women’s Day! That’s right, Autostraddlers. Not only is it a day about our favorite people in the world – women – but it is also a day about US – WOMEN! And it’s even the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day, so the celebration is be even bigger! Get out your history books and your Misty cigarettes – it’s INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY 2011!!

One of my favorite movies of all time is the culturally irrelevant and often forgotten “Corrina, Corrina.” When Molly doesn’t want to go to school, Corrina tells her to repeat this over and over again until she feels ready to go: “my name is ____ and there is no one in the world better than me.”

Say this to yourself today. Say it again. Happy International Women’s Day. You look great.

A little bit about International Women’s Day, according to the UN:

“International Women’s Day is celebrated in many countries around the world. It is a day when women are recognized for their achievements without regard to divisions, whether national, ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic or political. It is an occasion for looking back on past struggles and accomplishments, and more importantly, for looking ahead to the untapped potential and opportunities that await future generations of women.”

And a little bit about why I’m cracking open a bottle of Peach Andre and wearing a dress for the occasion:

I’m pretty much a huge feminist, you don’t even. I was even on the TV once, my hair was not big. I’ve done a little bit of writing here and there, y’know. I might have also spoken at a conference once, my hair was very big by then.

The moral of the story is: today is important, and I want you to know. So, after you’re done repeating today’s mantra, please watch this under-appreciated Beyoncé video:

You are ready to start International Women’s Day (IWD). Are you dancing / making merry yet? CELEBRATE ALREADY.

And now that you’re ready to raise your glass, proverbial or literal, let’s skim over a quick list of things you can do – whether you’re in the United States, somewhere else, or on an airplane with wi-fi and reading Autostraddle – to commemorate today in full.

+ Find out if there’s an official IWD event in or near your city online. The theme this year is “Access to Education, Training, Science, and Technology.” (PS, know a woman in science? LET HER KNOW ABOUT THIS!)

+ Stand with Planned Parenthood (again, exempting those of you on airplanes).

+ Fight back against street harassment in your neighborhood by supporting your local Hollaback! network. Hollaback! began in New York and is now active across the globe, and they’re totally badass. For IWD, they’re collecting stories about street harassment, which play a large role in proving its detriment.

+ Read Being Female (I am swooning, I love you Eileen) and the HU Queer Zine… again.

+ Also, read this Guardian article about how gender equality reduces world hunger.

+ Begin your participation in Feminist Coming Out Day, which may prove to be a little easier than your other coming out and maybe just as important. And if you’re doubtful, please watch this.

+ Read autostraddle.com

+ Go to google.com, where you will see a fancy IWD banner. Dig around in your pockets and click it, because it will generate a list of organizations appropriate to donate to today. Before donating, set aside some money for autostraddle.com, too.

+ Demand that the Stuttes’ insurance cover their arson damage. (Don’t know who they are? Click here.)

+ Add to this list in the comments on this post while reading autostraddle.com so diligently on a Tuesday

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Carmen

Carmen spent six years at Autostraddle, ultimately serving as Straddleverse Director, Feminism Editor and Social Media Co-Director. She is now the Consulting Digital Editor at Ms. and writes regularly for DAME, the Women’s Media Center, the National Women’s History Museum and other prominent feminist platforms; her work has also been published in print and online by outlets like BuzzFeed, Bitch, Bust, CityLab, ElixHER, Feministing, Feminist Formations, GirlBoss, GrokNation, MEL, Mic and SIGNS, and she is a co-founder of Argot Magazine. You can find Carmen on Twitter, Instagram and Tumblr or in the drive-thru line at the nearest In-N-Out.

Carmen has written 919 articles for us.

47 Comments

  1. Ahahahaha my brother is turning eighteen today. So instead of getting him stuff for his rifle, I should have bought him women positive porn (if it exists)?

  2. The list of things to do are all really important and useful, and yay women. But also, this post made me realize that I would really like some peach Andre.

  3. Also, it’s the day that the first Russian revolution of 1917 started (according to the western calendar – in Russia it was February). Just saying.

    • International Women’s Day is also like a REAL holiday in Russia. It’s like valentine’s day and mother’s day and also those other women who might play other roles in your life day, probably secretary’s day, all rolled into one. So, lots of flower buying. Though not too much sexism-fighting, let’s be honest.

  4. Women! I shall do all these things whilst listening to the spice girls/ joan jett / destiny’s child. Huzzah!

  5. It’s also Pancake Day in the UK, so I would suggest finding your favorite woman and making her pancakes (preferably bringing them to her in bed)

  6. i can’t do half those things! Here in Paraguay are close to none the LGBT organisations.. It sucks!

    • :( this actually makes me sad. if it makes you feel better i am here, celebrating via the internet with you.

  7. thanks! At least i’m not alone (:
    But i’m still disapointed, i thought there was going to be something to do (or drink) with the other gay ladies, but no, it’s just like february 24th wich is (take it as a fun fact) our national women’s day.. ):

  8. This is tricky. If you only have so much celebrational energy, do you spend it on International Women’s Day, or Pancake Day? I mean really, those two things don’t have much in common.

    Pancakes are best enjoyed smothered in jam or chocolate, having been yielded by a firm and vigorous wrist-action.

    Whereas women…

    ah sorry, I drifted off for a second there.

  10. Any particular reason you needed to use the word Homos? This is a great article and the offensive term, even in jest, kind of takes away from it all…

  12. “Corrinna, Corrinna”! Hahahaha. There was a period of my childhood where my little sister would make us rent that every other week from the video store (alternating with some movie about a seal I think?). I have possibly never heard it mentioned in my adult life.

    Also, I adore that Beyonce video too. I’m not super crazy about the song, but whenever the video’s playing at one of my favorite gay-man bars I can’t look away.

    • I think your sister probably had a kid crush on Tina Majorino. She was the little girl in both Corrina, Corrina and Andre, the movie with the seal.

      Oh yes, I just introduced a bit of your childhood into your adult life.

      • Hahaha! Yes! “Andre”! I was thinking that that was what it was called, but then was like, “wait, can I really be remembering that correctly?” Oh the days of VHS.

      • Those were my two favorite movies when I was little! I think “Andre” might be available on Netflix. Which might be how I celebrate today.

  14. Plus it so happens that today’s Mardi Gras, so basically the day should be one huge par-tay. (It certainly is in NOLA!)

  15. okay so i’m going to make pancakes shaped like woman symbols and eat them while wearing coloured beads, drinking a 40 and listening to the works of Barbra Ehrenreich on tape who’s with me

  16. “+ Find out if there’s an official IWD event in or near your city online. The theme this year is “Access to Education, Training, Science, and Technology.” (PS, know a woman in science? LET HER KNOW ABOUT THIS!)”
    At first I this made me sad, because it’s 22:30 on IWD, so I assumed I would have missed any events. Luckily though I checked & the Dundee events are both happening tomorrow!

  17. Happy Women’s Day, here’s a video of Beyonce in minimal clothing, and at one point she has a whip.
    I love you Autostraddle. <3

  18. It’s 2-for-1 Ladies Night @ the local dive bar aaaand that’s all I’ve got really. So hurray for being a lady!
    It is a far bigger deal in other countries for sure. A couple of years ago I was in Italy & got a crazy amount of *mimosas.

    *like – the flower…not the cocktail. Definitely a lost in translation moment.

  19. Yay, IWD! Since I’m stranded out here in the woods all by myself and all my friends live in other time zones anyway, I’m having a very low key celebration by myself. I’m reading ‘Baby Remember My Name: An Anthology of New Queer Girl Writing’ edited by Michelle Tea. Super awesome!

  20. there are a lot of things i feel like i could say about IWD but i’m going to stick with: EXCELLENT BEYONCE PICK. i am obsessed with that song/video and could never understand why other people weren’t. #beyoncefeelings #internationalwomensday

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