Brad Sanders

March 8, 2014 was International Women’s Day. The movement began over 100 years ago. The first National Women’s Day was observed in the US March 28th 1909 in accordance with a declaration by the socialist party of America. In 1908 15,000 women marched through New York to demand shorter working hours, better pay and voting rights.

Many great victories have been achieved by women in the decades since; But the truth of the matter is that women’s inequality is an on going struggle. We must not grow complacent concerning the rights of women any more than we should civil rights. It seems that the accomplishments of the past tend to put us to sleep concerning the problems that confront our lives presently. But as long as there is military resistance to prosecute, or in most cases even acknowledge the sexual abuse of women serving their country; as long as women are battered and murdered in alarming numbers by husbands and spouses; and as long as women are denied the right to realize their full life potential on the basis of their gender; then, there is much work to be done and we must all do our part to eliminate damaging words, images and behaviors toward women and girls and to promote a culture of love and respect through education and advocacy for the benefit of all.

Be Good To Women Day 2014 and beyond: The harvest is plenteous.