March 8, the day when the "Nobel" prize of hypocrisy is awarded

2024-03-08 15:23:00, Editorial Lutfi Dervishi

If you want to see all the corners of human hypocrisy, you can find it today on March 8, where it comes dressed and adorned in the clothes of International Women's Day.

On March 8, those who forget the word 'equality' throughout the year, suddenly have their hands full of bouquets of flowers for their mother, for their "better half", or for their daughter/s.

The longing becomes complete when you see the floods of congratulations on social networks that resemble those of the end of the year.

Suddenly, social media accounts from political trenches turn into shrines where women's rights are preached, quotes are published, poems are shared, songs are posted and literary dedications are forwarded.

Meanwhile, cafes, bars and restaurants are full of girls and women celebrating March 8 with a drink in hand and taking pictures of happiness.

The dilemma of celebration or protest has been resolved in time in favor of the former and despite its weight, for the time we are living in, such a debate would seem cliché or out of fashion.

You can't help but be surprised by this day: A flower here, a toast there, a piece of cake and lo and behold, we celebrated this March 8 as well.

But the climax of the farce remains the offers.

What better way to honor women's fight for rights and equality than with 10% off lipsticks and handbags?

This is economic emancipation?

In this great theater of March 8, the irony is as obvious as the marks that even the toilet on the face cannot hide.

The day meant to shine a light on issues like gender equality, pay gaps, and rights is shrouded in hypocrisy and commercialism.

Tomorrow will be March 9, the flowers will begin to wither, the social network posts of March 8 will be buried under the cyclone of news about domestic violence, murder of women and harassment in the workplace.

Tomorrow in the cafe there will be less women and girls, and more talk about what happened the day before where many men will share their experiences while waiting for the ladies at home.

But as the pages of the calendar are flipped, everything will once again sink into the habitat of inertia, the usual squabbles will continue, and business (including politics) will look forward to the next opportunity for publicity and profits.

And so, the ritual continues, with March 8 serving as an annual reminder that when it comes to women's rights, we prefer the scent of hypocrisy to a societal reflection on its progress.

Therefore, it would be more appropriate that March 8, above all, be considered as the day when the "Nobel" prize of hypocrisy is awarded.

Even in this case, let the best... the best win it with meritocracy!/ CNA