I forgot International Women's Day... Am I a Bad Feminist?

Yup. I forgot it was International Women's Day. I was reminded by someone else, and at first I felt really ashamed. 

For someone who is a strong feminist, and will always strive for equal rights for all women, this made me question myself. Was I a bad feminist? Was I a hypocrite? Was I a bad woman??

So let's look at this. I forgot International Women's Day because, although it was in my calendar, I was busy managing three consecutive events for my business at the weekend with long hours attached. I forgot because the week before I took time out to look after myself and de-stress, trying to look less at my phone, being in the outdoors, visiting a friend. 

So am I a bad feminist? Or am I a trying-my-best feminist?

I came home on Sunday, looked through social media and saw so many posts for International Women's Day. At first it made me feel even worse - why didn't I just do a quick grid post to show I remembered it and put something out there. Then I stopped. Half of these posts were genuinely building awareness, calling others to action, or elevating other women - it was just what this day should be. But there were also companies clearly just jumping on the bandwagon, making sure they're seen as 'the good guys' and it was so obvious.

I don't want to fall in that category. I want to make sure I'm doing something real.

Then I got to thinking. For me? Everyday is International Women's Day. And it should be. Until the gender pay gap is demolished, until every woman is taken seriously when they visit the doctor and women's health is given equal funding, until every woman (and I mean all women) feels safe enough to walk the streets without being scared of sexual assault or worse... International Women's Day is needed. Not just for one day, every day.

So every time I advocate for myself at the GP, I'm advocating for women's health issues to be taken seriously. Every time I call out bad behaviour, I'm advocating for change. Every time I encourage other women, I want to give them the courage and the confidence they need to go out there and make a life they deserve.

I truly want everyone to have equal rights, equal power, and equal opportunities. Men, women, and everyone in between. 

So, no. I'm not a bad feminist. I'm an every day, every way, proud-as-hell feminist!