Ten Wishes for Women’s Day 2007
1. That ALL forms of violence against women end.
This includes rape as a weapon of war, female genital mutilation, domestic violence, psychological abuse, child brides, female trafficking, sexual assault, verbal abuse (including “hey-baby’ from the unknown jerk on the side of the road), date rape, drug rape, gang rape, marital rape, incest, etc.
2. That people stop forwarding me “funny” emails based on gender stereotypes. They don’t help the cause of women and they don’t help the cause of men.
3. That feminists, politicians, and popular media stop debating maternity leave and start seriously discussing paternity leave. Giving mom some time off from her job to take care of the kiddies, without dad’s help, is just a set up for a life time of unequal parenting.
4. That Britney Spears quickly recovers from whatever currently ails her, realises that skimpy clothes can’t bring you happiness, uses her voice to do a modern rendition of “I am woman” and becomes the poster child for young feminists everywhere - all with a shaved head.
5. Hillary wins.
6. Johnny looses.
7. Abortion is finally decriminalised throughout Australia and put under the relevant health act, where it belongs.
8. That “right to lifers” concern themselves with life. For instance the lives of women who they condemn as murders, the lives of people who could be helped by stem-cell research, the lives of the terminally ill who wish to end their pain.
9. That someone makes an action adventure movie where the central character features a woman rather than sensationalising a woman’s features. No latex should be involved in the making of this movie.
10. That marriage is allowed for all individuals, regardless of sexuality, because every person should have the right to reject this institution if they so choose.

I am woman, hear me roar!
