My international perspective on International Women’s Day

By Sofia Barahona Mena, Senior Development Coordinator

“Conservatives are using the same arguments put forth by the U.S. Supreme Court to push back on our rights in other countries.”

Today on International Women’s Day, I’d like to share my perspective with you as a Chilean woman who came to the U.S. to work and study four years ago.

In January, Equal Rights Advocates hosted a small and intimate get-together in San Francisco commemorating the 50th anniversary of Roe v. Wade. It was a community event where we shared our thoughts about the rights of women and gender-expansive people, and connected over how we felt last year when we heard the news that our right to bodily autonomy would now depend on which state we lived in. The event warmed our hearts and gave us the energy we needed to keep working.

“An international perspective allows us to learn from each other. What we do here has an impact on other people’s lives elsewhere.”

In my home country, abortion is not constitutionally protected. Just 5 years ago, after the Chilean feminist movement pushed and protested for years, we got the minimum: pregnant people now can decide to end their pregnancy if they were raped, their life is at risk, or their pregnancy can medically not succeed. Coming to the U.S., it was a relief knowing that I had the chance to decide what happened to my own body and life if I got pregnant.  

My point is this: what is discussed and decided in the U.S. affects not only American women, but also people around the world. Conservatives are using the same arguments put forth by the U.S. Supreme Court to push back on our rights in other countries.

Women worldwide are looking to you. hearing what you have to say.

International Women’s Day is commemorated internationally because, in every country, women and gender-expansive folks experience inequality, violence, and abuse. An international perspective allows us to learn from each other. What we do here has an impact on other people’s lives elsewhere. That’s Equal Rights Advocates inspiration today.  

What happens in this country has way more impact than we might usually believe. Would you contribute today to help end sexual violence, discrimination, and keep fighting for our rights in the U.S. and beyond? 

Donate today

Thank you for joining me to support equal rights everywhere this International Women’s Day.