Women’s Day sparks ‘Day without a Woman’ movement

Google has marked International Women’s Day 2017 with a slideshow featuring 13 female pioneers from across the globe who it says have “paved the way to where we are today”. They say “A Day Without a Woman” is a way to bring attention to, in their words, “the enormous value that women of all backgrounds add to our socio-economic system – while receiving lower wages and experiencing greater inequalities”.

My friend James wished me and some other women friends on our small WhatsApp chat group, “Happy International Women’s Day!” this morning and most undeservedly got a snappy “Thanks but I don’t want just a day”.

The letter outlines the mission of “A Day Without A Woman”, and the various issues that women face in the workplace each day that make the movement necessary.

The protest is already affecting dozens of schools, which are heavily staffed by women.

According to CNN, 300 employees in the Virginia-based school district will not report to work, prompting school officials to nix classes.

The rest is really up to us women.

First celebrated on February 28, 1909, in NY, it was initially “International Working Women’s Day” – a tribute to the 1908 strike where 15, 000 women marched in the city demanding social and political rights under the International Ladies Garment Workers’ Union.

Organizers are asking participants to post photos and messages on Facebook, Twitter and social media sites with the hashtag #IStrikeFor.

The theme of today’s protest is “It’s Time for a Change!” If you can’t afford to take the day off or fear being fired, you can instead wear red (signifying “revolutionary love and sacrifice”) in solidarity with the strike.

He said one of the changes is about family violence and acknowledged the work of the Women and Children Crisis Centre and the Tonga National Centre for Women and Children.

Women are also encouraged to give their bosses a form letter provided by organizers explaining why they will not be at work. Thus began the annual ritual of a day dedicated to woman, although, it is in actuality an event demanding gender-equality.