Image via iStockPhoto/Steve Debenport
March 8th is International Women’s Day. A day more celebrated or acknowledged in other parts of the world than in the US in general but it is catching on. Social media, democratized media, great technology are fueling the expansion of awareness days and campaigns.
Like this one.
The United Nations acknowledges International Women’s Day with events around the world. The Women in the World Foundation is helping bring together women-focused organizations and a three-day summit focusing on women’s issues with live streaming panels and a social media push. All of this is very serious: the issues of women in war-torn areas, the maternal health horrors in developing nations, lack of education, slavery, famine, clean water and so much more become women’s issues. We know that. In this country, women’s health has become a political football.
But inevitably, social media will have fun with any trend that rolls through the Twitter news feed.
I saw a couple of tweets that made me giggle… This does not belittle the cause of raising awareness just lightens the mood a bit:
- @ClinicEscort: Little old lady on Amtrak to burly conductor taking her ticket: “Enjoy women’s day!”
- @dailypinch: Today is International Women’s Day. Does that mean my husband cooks dinner and rubs my feet?
And from a tweep called @supermantweets:
- Women of the Earth, I wish you a Happy International Women’s Day. NEVER FORGET HOW POWERFUL YOU ARE.
And here’s a serious one from Women in the World – that sounded a bit like the social version of “Honk if you love trees.”
- Retweet if you believe in the dignity and equality of all women! #IWD #WIW12 #SecClinton
The difference between a Retweet (RT) campaign and honking on the street is metrics. We can add up how many folks did the RT. Social folks are happy to do that. Happier to RT than to honk. And it’s quieter.
While I am parsing irony, I wonder how Limbaugh, Romney and Santorum are celebrating today? Just a passing thought.
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