International Women’s Day March 8 is a holiday that was born out of mass protests for women’s rights and has undergone many changes over time. In some countries, it has become an occasion to thank ladies for their love and care, while in others it continues to remind us of the struggle for gender equality. Asya Polyakova, historian and author of the first Russian-language blog about gender history, said about the essence of the holiday.
History of the holiday
One of the first women’s protests against economic, social, and political inequality was the “March of the Empty Pans”, which took place in March 1857 in New York City. Workers in textile and shoe factories spoke out against the 16-hour working day and unfair wages. In 1908, women again rallied and demanded suffrage and decent working conditions.
The first National Women’s Day took place in the United States on February 28, 1909, when the Socialist Party of America organized mass rallies as part of the campaign for women’s voting rights.
“February 28 – because the organizers wanted the holiday to fall on Sunday: on the day off, more women would take part in rallies,” the specialist explained.
In 1910, at the International Socialist Congress in Copenhagen, communist Clara Zetkin proposed celebrating the day of the struggle for equal voting rights for women. A year later, Women’s Day was celebrated in Germany, Switzerland, Denmark and Austria.
“We must not forget about Rosa Luxemburg. The original idea, stated at the congress of the Socialist International, proclaimed this day as a day of struggle for social and political rights,” Polyakova continued.
In the Russian Empire, Women’s Day began on February 23, 1917, according to the old style (new style – March 8). On this day, female workers in Petrograd took to the streets demanding peace, bread, and the return of loved ones from the front.
“It was a massive demonstration. Actually, this is part of the marches of women who went out to rallies every year after the outbreak of the First World War, but in our country [Russia], such a strike was one of the important events that led to the revolution,” the historian said.
The date March 8 was officially established only in 1921 – and then it became known as International Women’s Day. In 1965, by decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, the holiday of March 8 was officially enshrined in law. In the Soviet Union, it had already lost its feminist focus, becoming a day of spring and honoring all women. Until the mid-1970s, this holiday was celebrated mainly in socialist countries.
In 1975, the holiday was recognized by the UN as International Women’s Day. This happened on the eve of the UN Decade for Women (1976-1985).
[Image: Hulton-Deutsch Collection/Corbis/Getty Images]
Goals and relevance of the holiday
Although the holiday declares goals related to drawing attention to gender inequality, in Russia, it is perceived as a day of attention to women – and is very far from the fight for equality.
“Perhaps among young people, the holiday is more often perceived as a day of struggle for gender equality, but in general the trends towards increasing awareness of gender equality issues are contradictory,” says Polyakova.
According to her, the legend says that Nadezhda Krupskaya brought the celebration of International Women’s Day in a “flower” format to the USSR. At the same time, the image of the “Soviet woman” arose.
“The holiday, in fact, from the day of the struggle for gender equality became a holiday of Soviet women – and has come down to us in this form,” said the historian.
Officially, International Women’s Day is celebrated in more than 40 countries, but its political meaning is not remembered everywhere.
How March 8 is celebrated in different countries
Post-Soviet space
In many post-Soviet countries, March 8 is an official day off. In Russia and many other countries, on this day it is customary to honor all-female representatives, thank them, and spend time with family. An obligatory attribute of the holiday is flowers (today these are usually tulips, although in Soviet times Women’s Day was more associated with mimosa).
Most Russians consider the best gift for their woman on March 8th to be the one she asks for herself. This is evidenced by a survey that 18% believe that it is enough to give flowers to a lady, and 11.8% plan to give perfume. 9% of survey participants think of getting by with candy. 6% will be invested in clothes, accessories, and a romantic dinner.
China
In China, the word “woman” is associated with a lady over 35 years old – there is a separate holiday for young girls, which is celebrated on March 7th. In the Celestial Empire, International Women’s Day proceeds quietly in the family circle, where mothers and grandmothers are congratulated.
Japan
In Japan, there is no official holiday on March 8th, but the entire month of March is considered women’s month. The main women’s holiday in Japan is March 3 – Peach Blossom Day or Doll Festival.
Italy
In Italy, International Women’s Day is marked on the calendar but is not an official public holiday. Many people simply don’t celebrate it, but local feminist groups go to rallies. The symbol of March 8 in Italy is the mimosa, which is given to women as a sign of respect.
France
In France, this holiday has retained almost its original meaning: on March 8, feminists declare cases of infringement of their rights and fight for gender equality.
Germany
In Clara Zetkin’s homeland, the celebration of March 8 is notably absent, with the belief that in Germany, this occasion serves as a reminder of its socialist history. While in the past, East Germany acknowledged and congratulated women on this day, the landscape shifted significantly after the reunification of the country. The sentiment surrounding International Women’s Day seems to have waned, and in contemporary Germany, the holiday is perceived as a fading echo of its socialist roots. The historical context of East and West Germany’s differing approaches to this celebration underscores the complex dynamics and evolving perspectives surrounding the observance of March 8 in the unified nation.
Cuba
In Cuba, March 8 is celebrated on a grand scale – on this day the country hosts many events where women are honored. In 1959, Fidel Castro praised Cuban women who fought selflessly during the revolution, and since then Cuban women have felt freer and more independent.
