International Women's Day

Poster for Women's Day in 1914. Source: Wikipedia.

Back to the beginnings
On Friday March 8, (some) people around the world will celebrate International Women's Day. This day was originally suggested in 1910 at the International Socialist Woman's Conference as a gathering to be held annually. The picture shows a poster for Frauen Tag in 1914 which demands women's right to vote. The translation from German reads: "Give Us Women's Suffrage. Women's Day, March 8, 1914. Until now, prejudice and reactionary attitudes have denied full civic rights to women, who as, mothers, and citizens wholly fulfil their duty, who must pay their taxes to the state as well as the municipality. Fighting for this natural human right must be the firm, unwavering intention of every woman, every female worker. In this, no pause for rest, no respite is allowed. Come all, you women and girls, to the 9th public women's assembly on Sunday, March 8, 1914, at 3 pm." The day became a national holiday in Soviet Russia after women gained voting rights in 1917. After that year, it was predominantly celebrated by the socialist movement and communist countries until it was adopted in 1975 by the United Nations.

Lost in translation

Mimosa flowers (Acacia Dealbata. Photo credits:Nursery Live.)

Growing  up in Italy in the 80s, International Women's Day (IWD) for me was the day women received mimosas, the bright beautiful acacia flowers. I was not aware of its political significance, but I liked buying them for my mother or seeing that she was receiving them as a "thank you" for all her  hard work as a mother and full-time teacher. I also simply liked the intoxicating/intense scent. When I smell these flowers, I automatically think of all the great women I encountered in my life and who inspired me  (that will be the subject of another post on "role models").  Later on, in my twenties, when I became aware of the political significance of this day, I started paying more attention to it. Writing this blog, I got the chance to reflect on this feminist celebration which, in some cases, has lost its original significance (i.e. a day for the revendication of the right of women to vote), particularly now that women had obtained the suffrage almost in every country with Saudi Arabia being the last country to allow women to vote in 2015 (well, there is still Vatican City where women cannot vote, but neither can men who are not cardinals).


A new concept for IWD
So, what is the relevance of IWD in today's landscape? I think the answer to this question is as varied as there are people (yes, not only women) in the world. For example, for some women it's the right to drive a car, or to go to school, or to walk alone in the streets if so they choose. For some women, it's the right to have the same opportunities that are given to men in the workplace and to find their voices in the public arena. For some transgender women, it's the right to compete in women's sports or being included in women's electoral lists. For some men, it's the right to adequate parental leave and the notion that they won't miss the train of opportunities if they take that time off to care for their children. For young people, it's the right to study, to find a job when they come out of school and to know that they will be able to have a future on a planet which has been put under dangerous stress by irresponsible choices of its inhabitants. The list can go on and on.
The poster in the picture was photographed by me last weekend in Lisbon, Portugal. Similarly to the poster for women's day in 1914, it calls for a day of action - an international feminist strike - on March 8, to revendicate the rights of working people, students, nurses and consumers. That illustrates perfectly how IWD has started to take a whole new meaning, unifying different causes under the flag of what are considered feminine characteristics: caring for others, caring for the planet, asking for social justice, expressing solidarity. Perhaps this is the best way to celebrate it.

Poster on the streets of Lisbon, photo taken on March 3 2018.