Why "8 March" - Pourquoi le 8 mars ? Warum "8. März"?
Many from a younger generation feel that 'all the battles have been won for women'... ...while many feminists from the 1970's know only too well the longevity and ingrained complexity of patriarchy. With more women in the boardroom, greater equality in legislative rights, and an increased critical mass of women's visibility as impressive role models in every aspect of life, one could think that women have gained true equality. The unfortunate fact is that women are still not paid equally to that of their male counterparts, women still are not present in equal numbers in business or politics, and globally women's education, health and the violence against them is worse than that of men.
However, great improvements have been made. We do have female astronauts and prime ministers, school girls are welcomed into university, women can work and have a family, women have real choices. And so the tone and nature of IWD has, for the past few years, moved from being a reminder about the negatives to a celebration of the positives.
Annually on 8 March, thousands of events are held throughout the world to inspire women and celebrate their achievements. While there are many large-scale initiatives, a rich and diverse fabric of local activity connects women from all around the world ranging from political rallies, business conferences, government activities and networking events through to local women's craft markets, theatric performances, fashion parades and more.
(Source:
International Women's Day)
-
All around the world on this day women are organising demonstrations against
the war and sanctions on Iraq; more than a decade of sanctions have killed
an estimated 1.7 million Iraqis; a new invasion will bring more death and
devastation. International Women's Day is an occasion to protest against
wars of aggression which serve the interests of big corporations but cause
untold suffering to ordinary people. It is a day to protest against
injustice and inequality - in NZ women are still denied equal pay-women's
average wages are just 80 per cent of mens. Equal pay is long overdue! Sole
parents, most of whom are women, receive inadequate support and the DPB is
well below a living income. The benefit cuts of 1991 caused great hardship
and need to be reversed, now. Women and men: take a stand against the war;
take a stand for equality and liberation! (source: email from PMA-NZ Feb2003)
- En
août 1908, lors de la deuxième Conférence
internationale des femmes socialistes, la féministe
allemande Clara Zetkin propose que les femmes de tous les
pays organisent une fois l'an une journée de revendications
pour obtenir le droit de vote. Dès 1911, cette journée
a lieu dans plusieurs pays entre la fin février et
le début du mois de mars.
- Le
8 mars 1917, les ouvrières de St-Petersbourg défilent
en demandant du pain et le retour de leurs maris du front
de la Première Guerre mondiale. Elles sont rejointes
par une foule d'ouvriers qui se sont mis en grève.
Le mouvement va alors s'amplifier et, au bout de quelques
jours, obligera le tsar à abdiquer. Ce défilé
initié par les femmes a donc mis le feu aux poudres
des événements de l'année 1917 qui
aboutiront à la Révolution russe. Dès
ce moment, la journée des femmes est célébrée
en lien avec ce qui est considéré comme le
premier jour de la révolution. En 1921, Lénine
décrète le 8 mars Journée des Femmes.
- Avec
le temps, la tradition s'installe dans de nombreux pays
et, en 1977, les Nations Unies officialisent cette date
en instaurant la Journée Internationale des Femmes.
Pour
en savoir plus : 8 mars Historique
source: Site officiel de l'Etat de Genève - Service pour la promotion de l'égalité entre homme et femme
Femmes à Genève
International Women's Day
Les femmes demandent réparation
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