Today is International Women's Day (08.03.26). It's not a day celebrated equally everywhere. I don't usually like to celebrate the date openly, because I think every day should be women's day. As long as we have one day to celebrate ourselves, it is a reminder that we still have a long way to go. I am, of course, aware that the places that don't celebrate it now are not necessarily paragons of gender equity. But I do respect and honour the long history of the battles fought by the women who came before us.
Today, I share the messages that touched me most, shared with me by other women.
One of the first was a picture a friend took of a spa window on a window we both mate to Berlin last year. She dedicated it to me when she sent it today. It says:
"I had a second birth,
when my soul and my body
loved one another and married."
The second was sent by another friend. We are each other's valentines. We met in 1993, when we enrolled in Anthropology, and we have been friends ever since. This friendship has survived since the pre-social media era, despite the three of us living in different countries after graduating. This second was a picture of women striking for equality and against war. Sadly still necessary.
The third was a song my mother sent: "Secretos de Mujer" (a woman's secrets) by Layah Noir. Her voice is deep and piercing; the lyrics resonate.
"Duermo ligera, (I sleep lightly,)
Por si alguien llama, (In case someone calls for me,)
Por si un hijo (In case a child)
Se pone a llorar (Begins to cry)
Por si mañana (In case tomorrow)
Falta dinero (There is no money)
Por si algo (In case something)
Vuelve a salir mal (Goes wrong again)
Trabajo dentro (I work in)
Y fuera de casa, (And outside the home,)
Sin horario (Without a time)
Para terminar (To finish)
Si algo falla, (If something fails)
Mi nombre aparece, (My name appears,)
Si todo sale bien, (If all goes well,)
Da igual (It doesn't matter)
Secretos de mujer, (A woman's secrets,)
Lo que hago (What I do)
No siempre se ve (cannot always be seen)
Si me equivoco (If I am wrong)
Soy señalada, (I am pointed at,)
Si resisto, (If I resist,)
'Asì deve ser' ('This is how it should be')
Secretos de mujer, (A woman's secrets,)
Aprendí (I have learned)
A no incomodar (To not inconvenience)
A bajar (To lower)
Un poco la voz (A little my voice)
Para poder avanzar (To be able to advance)
Me enseñaron (I was taught)
A estar pendiente, (To be on the lookout,)
A sostener (To hold)
Sin reclamar (Without complaining)
A ser conprensiva (To be understanding)
Y paciente, (And patient,)
Aunque nadie (Even when no one)
Pregunte qué tal (Asks me how am I doing)
He sentido (I have felt)
Miedo en la calle, (Fear on the streets,)
He fingido (I have pretended)
Una llamada más (To get just another call)
He calculado (I have calculated)
Cada gesto (Each gesture)
Para no provocar (To not provoke)
Secretos de mujer, (A woman's secrets,)
Cansancio que (Fatique that)
No hace ruido (Doesn't make noise)
Llevar la culpa (To take the blame)
Por defecto (By default)
Aunque no tenga (Even if it makes no)
Sentido (Sense)
Secretos de mujer, (A woman's secrets,)
Doble turno (Double shift)
Emocional (Emotional)
Ser refugio (To be a refuge)
Permanente (Permanently)
Sin un lugar (Without a place)
Al que llegar (To arrive)
No quiero ser fuerte (I don't want to be strong)
Todo el tiempo, (All the time,)
Quiero poderme (I want to be able)
Equivocar (To be wrong)
No ser ejemplo (To not be a role model)
De nada, (For anything,)
Solo vivir (To just live)
Sin justificar (Without justification)
No quiero aplausos (I don't want applause)
Por cumplir (To manage)
Lo que otros (What others)
Dan por normal (Find normal)
Quiero el mismo (I want the same)
Espacio simple (Simple space)
Que siempre acogieron (That welcomed)
Los demás (Everyone else)
Secretos de mujer, (A woman's secrets,)
Historias (Stories)
Que no se cuentan (That aren't told)
La presión (The presure)
De ser perfecta (To be perfect)
Aunque la regla (Even if the norm)
Esté impuesta (Is imposed)
Secretos de mujer, A woman's secrets,)
No es drama, (Isn't drama,)
Es realidad (It's reality)
Es aprender (It's to learn)
Desde muy joven (From a young age)
A sobrevivir (To survive)
Y callar (And shut up)
Secretos de mujer, (A woman's secrets,)
Lo que sostengo (What I hold)
También es poder (Is also power)
No es silencio (It's not silence)
Ni costumbre (Or custom)
Es aprender (It's learning)
A no ceder. (To not give in.)
Secretos de mujer (A woman's secrets)"
As I was transcribing the lyrics, I realised that Layah Noir is what Google's AI calls "a virtual AI artist and singer". It is no wonder that it resonates. That is what AI is built for. To learn from and cater to the widest tastes.
Today, I will choose to look away; from the invisible work that supports AI, the ecological disaster that is its energy consumption, the specific threat that AI "artists" pose to human artists and creativity. Perhaps it isn't the best day. I will do my penance another day. Every other day...
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