March 8 is considered International Women’s Day. This day is celebrated around the globe.  The day originated with the Socialist Party of America in the early 1900s in alignment with the party’s campaign for shorter working hours and higher wages for women.  International Women’s Day is observed in over 20 countries as a day honoring family members and friends who are women.

There is no doubt that this day serves as a profound reminder of the great impact that women have had on society.  Which is why it is disappointing to scroll through my Twitter feed and browse the internet to see International Women’s Day used as a political statement.  I was disappointed to see arguments concerning America’s “War on Women” as well as many vulgar quotes suggesting that the only way for women to get ahead in their career is to be nasty and ruthless in the workplace.

Really?  Is ths what International Women’s Day is about: a “War on Women” and slandering women simply to accomplish a political agenda?

Let’s step back for a minute and see what this day is really about.

Back in 1897 when the Socialist Party of America held their founding convention, they argued that everyone in society should be equal.  Today we think, “Well obviously!”  And it’s true: in the United States and many democratic western countries, we are all humans and equal regardless of race, gender or creed.

Here’s the catch: the Socialist Party of America wanted all workers paid the same no matter how hard they worked, so that they could establish “a commonwealth which, although it will not make every man equal physically or mentally, will give to every worker the free exercise and the full benefit of his faculties,” according to the party’s Declaration of Principles.

Though this sounds appealing, it also means that the merit system where one’s salary is determined by their quality of work would be destroyed.  The Socialists also wanted the government to have complete control over all public industry, thus eliminating America’s basis of capitalism. However, these founding principles were designed with equality for all.

Just like with any important day, people tend to celebrate in a variety of ways.  People may attend rallies on Martin Luther Day or trick-or-treats on Halloween.

So, when International Women’s Day comes around, we have some choices about how we may want to celebrate.  We can think about it’s original intent: a socialist agenda that wanted to drastically change the principles upon which America was founded.  Or we can think about what needs to be done to help our sisters in many countries that do not even have their basic needs or rights met.

A Gallup poll conducted in light of International Women’s Day, surveyed the percentage of thriving women and suffering women in various countries.  Thriving women tended to be concentrated in wealthy countries, whereas suffering women were found in less developed countries.  The United States had a 63% thriving rate for women.

This discrepancy needs to change.  Gender discrimination in the work place should be a thing of the past, and since it isn’t, International Women’s Day is a perfect time to call attention to the issue.

But what about the suffering women?  Afghanistan, Egypt and Madagascar were among some of the countries where there are more women suffering than thriving.  How about the poll that shows that women in Iraq, Iran and Egypt report the highest negative experience index regarding emotion?  This makes me stop and see the bigger issue.

There are also many women both in the United States and other countries experiencing abuse and harm. Should the United States be worried that International Women’s Day has become a political statement for America, one of the most privileged countries in the world when honor killings, genital mutilation and slavery are still common practices in the Middle East, Africa, and other parts of the world?

This isn’t a women’s issue anymore, this is a people issue.  A simple moral code, within all of us, acknowledges the evil of these practices, but sometimes our own political agenda gets in the way, when, in fact, there are larger problems at hand.  I am guilty of this; we all are.  It’s easy to lose track of all the malice being done to women when we live in such a liberating country already.

Take Malala Yousafzai.  The youngest winner of the Nobel Peace Prize at age 16, Yousafzai gives new meaning to the term: girl power.  Ever since she was a child, she has advocated for a women’s right to education, a risky undertaking when you live in Pakistan. Because of this, the Taliban not only proclaimed death threats against her, but on October 9, 2012, they shot her while she was on her way home from school.  The shooting did not stop this young woman, who has spoken to the United Nations and written an autobiography I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban, from advocating for every woman to have a right to education.  This is a young woman who has not let her age or gender define her.  Despite being under constant risk of attack, Malala Yousafzai pushes ahead for the right to education, making her my personal girl-hero.

This is why we need everyone, not just women to come together.  The sisterhood is great, but think how much we could accomplish if both women and men could come together to fight the injustices and violations of women throughout the world.

International Women’s Day is a day to keep in mind women all over the world whose basic right to life is no longer a given, women who are subject to oppression and abuse, simply because they were born a woman.

We are not little kids anymore – this isn’t about stereotypical boys vs. girls.  No, this is about our fellow humans, no matter which gender. It is about all of us coming together towards a common goal – to band together so that all women and men have equality.  It is not going to happen overnight, but recognizing the strength already present within us is the first step, whether it is International Women’s Day or not.