Every year, March 8thmarks the day to celebrate women, and their achievements, around the world. This does not give justification to dismiss any contributions women make on the rest of the 364 days. What it does mark is an important time in history when women spoke out against their oppression by revolting against the detrimental conditions under which they were working and demanded better pay, rights to vote, and shorter work hours. The world has come a long way since then and discrimination towards women doesn’t go unaddressed, yet societies haven’t completely broken ties with traditional values of patriarchy. In order to promote a more gender inclusive world and empower women, these are some of the ways countries around the world celebrate International Women’s Day.
Global rallies
In commemoration of International Women’s Day, women from countries around the world participate in rallies and demonstrations for equality. Throughout the years, women have protested in many ways for equal rights and to make people aware of the sufferings they face. In Spain, women formed triangles with their hands as part of their demonstration. In Argentina, women wore underwear as masks. In Romania, women laid flowers before the Romanian Ministry of Interior in protest. Although the day is in celebration for women, men have also participated to honor women. A few years back, in China, a group of men walked in heels all day to encourage people to empathize with women and justify the importance of feminism.
Festa della Donna
Festa della Donna, or International Women’s Day, is celebrated all over Italy by giving bright yellow flowers called mimosas to women and adorning the streets with them. The flower is symbolic of International Women’s Day and is a representation of women’s achievements. The tradition began when Italian feminists chose the flower as a symbol of strength after World War II and today it continues to be a significant indication of the contribution of women in political, economic and social upliftment.
With Mother’s Day and Girl’s Day
In some countries, International Women’s Day is celebrated concurrently with other holidays, specifically centered around certain groups of women. In Serbia, Atlanta, Macedonia, Uzbekistan and Russia, children give presents to their mothers and grandmothers as a sign of love and respect. Men give presents and flowers to the women in their life to show appreciation. In China, Girl’s Day is celebrated by female students at colleges, universities, and schools on March 7th.
Leave from Work
In most countries, women are given leave for the day on International Women’s Day. In China, working women can take half the day off. In Madagascar, it is considered a national holiday and only women in the workforce are given the day off. Other countries like Berlin, Nepal, and Kazakhstan, also mark this day by giving women a break from work.
This year, the theme for International Women’s Day is #BalanceForBetter to encourage people to build a world that fosters equality across all genders. To celebrate International Women’s Day this year, appreciate the contributions and successes of women, participate in campaigns, and raise a voice to advocate for change in favor for equality. You can also show your support by wearing something purple!