A brief her-story of international women's day
SARAH GRANKE
International Women’s Day is an annual celebration that is celebrated worldwide on March 8, in recognition of women and their art, accomplishments, perspectives and a womyn-centered culture. It is also a time to reflect on ways to challenge and end sexism, violence, racism, classism, able-ism, homophobia and other issues that many women face on a daily basis. This day of celebration is a result of the efforts of the working class women who fought for improved working conditions.
Today, International Women’s Day (IWD) is considered an official holiday in various countries around the world, including most of the former Soviet Union and Vietnam. However, IWD is usually not noted on calendars in Canada. The one beside me right now, which is dedicated to embracing women as they age, does not even have IWD marked on it. In fact, most men and many women do not know IWD exists, let alone how it came into being.
As a womyn who celebrates IWD, I thought it was exceptionally important to give a brief her-story GRANKEof International Women’s Day as well as the local celebrations that are happening on campus.
A very brief her-story of IWD
According to the National Women’s History Project, in New York City on March 8, 1857, female garment workers protested against their poor working conditions and demanded better wages, shorter hours, equal rights and improved working conditions. Many years later, in 1909, American socialists decided to dub the last Sunday of February as National Women’s Day.
In 1910 at a conference held in Copenhagen by the Socialist International, Luise Zietz and Clara Zetkin proposed that the American Women’s Day be internationalized, but no exact date was selected.
In Russia, there had been many workers’ strikes and on March 8, 1917 (inspired by International Women’s Day), women left their homes and factories to protest the terrible shortages of food, the high prices, the world war, and the increased suffering they had a bitterly endured. This protest that these women began launched one of the first stages of the Russian Revolution of 1917.
A big fat revolution
This year the U of M Womyn’s Centre is hosting “A Big Fat Revolution,” a week-long celebration of IWD. The events and workshops are geared towards learning about, living in and loving the beautiful bodies that we’ve got! Although many of the events are geared towards women, men are invited and encouraged to come out as well.
The main guests for International Women’s Week 2007 are the Fat Femme Mafia, a Toronto-based fat activist and performance duo committed to taking up issues around FAT. They have performed and facilitated workshops across North America and have been seen in Xtra!, the Toronto Star, and on MTV Live. The Fat Femme Mafia incorporates the celebration of all bodies within their work and they also really love to be cooked for. The Fat Femme Mafia will be screening a documentary about their work, as well as holding a Q and A session and a body positive workshop.
For more information on the events that are taking place contact the Womyn’s Centre at 474-6897 or uofm_womyn@hotmail.com or pick up a pamphlet at 190 Helen Glass.
