I’m not sure if this holiday would be allowed in America. After all, most things have to be equal there, and I’m just not sure it would fly as a sanctioned holiday. But in China it’s all the rage!
When I head into work tonight I fully expect to not see most of my female Chinese colleagues. Oh, I’ll see the teachers, all right (you never get out of that), but most of the support staff that have to talk with parents and students about administrative matters, well, they’ll be gone.
I remember when I worked at the public schools. On International Women’s Day the female teachers got all day, or at least half of the day after lunch, off. I always felt a bit resentful of that, because the men didn’t get that. It always made me think that this holiday creates a little too much animosity, perhaps much like Mother’s Day does with moms and their children.
Anyway, I read in the paper a couple of years ago about some Chinese men in the blogosphere who wanted to get International Men’s Day proclaimed as a real holiday in China. I thought, ‘hey, not a bad idea,’ until I read further and found out that they wanted the holiday to be in August. Well, as a teacher that helps me about as much as an asshole on my elbow, which is to say not much.
Needless to say, their bright idea didn’t go through, and I feel that it’s been to the detriment of all ever since. Now, I know women argue that they need the holiday, and I really feel for them that they do the same work for less pay, many times at least. But when I see people not have to work when I do just because of their sex, well, it pisses me off.
The only bright spot I can see in this tonight is that maybe some of my girl students will stay home. And, I’ve got another damn Parent Teacher Meeting tonight. Perhaps some of the moms will cancel. Oh wait, that just mean I have to prepare more stuff. Damn you International Women’s Day!
Learn More About International Women’s Day
Wikipedia Article
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Women%27s_Day
It’s Own Website (go figure)
http://www.internationalwomensday.com/about.asp
International Men’s Day
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Men%27s_Day