Let’s link by Women Inc.

The website promises me that I am going to see and experience women and their initiatives as the missing link to new solutions and developments needed for a changing world...

It looks very professional when I arrive there: nice location in a trendy building, well dressed women (all the time looking and complimenting) and some men, events in every corner of the building, many people talking and laughing. The sun is still shining.

I’m there to meet some colleagues of the Dutch gender platform WO=MEN (women equals men), which gives room to all kinds of organisations and individuals. There is a lot of diversity among the participants, I like that. Some are from the multicultural women peacemakers’ network, others from the Yente business women’s network, and the Rutgers WPF, promoting the female condom. Interesting, I had never seen one before, but it seems that women in Nigeria and Cameroon have started to buy them more and more, after a recent campaign and training held amongst hairdressers. The women like to regain some control in their reproductive life. I can take one to try how that feels. The sun is still shining.

Equal rights exist, but mainly on paper, let’s reclaim them

The Dutch Women’s Council is also interesting; they gather 45 organisations working on all kinds of women’s rights and gender issues. They convinced the Dutch government last year that the real agents of change in this world are women. Convincing lobbyists thus! Last Friday, the Dutch Women’s Council celebrated their International Women’s Day and for the first time they did that with another network, of more internationally oriented women’s organisations. An inspiring experience for them and the snacks were much better!

In my efforts to get to know and experience women and their initiatives, I try to talk to all the women passing by the WO=MEN stand. In one effort I end up in a discussion with the self named director of the future ‘feminist museum’ (the only thing that exists at the moment is the inspiration and a whole list of claimed internet names). My reaction to her question, ‘how feminist is the Dutch gender platform’ is too slow, too thoughtful. ‘So you don’t dare to call yourself a feminist?’ is the immediate and (a bit) bitchy reaction. Mmm, good question, and indeed, I hesitate to call myself a feminist in this trendy setting. I look outside, where’s the sun?

What is still feminist in a manifestation like this? It’s full of young women talking about how to get the most out of their career, their relationships and their families. Expectations are high and opportunities are plenty, and so is the level of confidence. But why then do we still have these glass ceilings? Why are there so few women managers at the top? It’s not only because women have other priorities, or because they are not ambitious. Don’t we have the same fight to fight as 50 years ago? And don’t we share that with other women in the world? Is it not the same as the rural woman not really given the chance of being elected for the water committee of their village, despite her ambition?

But then, when I pick up my thingies and when I firmly hold my goody bag (full of glossy magazines), she is there: my prototype feminist. With a serious face she hands me over a small paper with a lot of text and a small black and white photo. I look at it: 8 March 100th International Women’s Day. We must demonstrate and show our solidarity with all the other women in the world. Women should fill the streets and squares, with torches and banners to fight for our rights! Equal rights exist, but mainly on paper, let’s reclaim them … the sun is shining although it’s getting late. I think European Spring will start on 8 March!

Text: Mireille Vermeulen