Most of us know that March 8 marks International Women’s Day all over the world. But…if you think this is a day to celebrate or congratulate, let me tell you, no, this is a day to commemorate. And what is commemoration? To commemorate is to remember a historical event or an outstanding person through the celebration of a solemn act, it is to serve as a tribute or memory.
So this date is special but not to receive roses, flowers, chocolates or gifts, but because it highlights the struggle of women for equality, recognition and the effective exercise of their rights. In the incident that took place in a textile factory, on March 8, 1908, women demanded equal pay, a reduction in the working day to 10 hours, with the right to a weekly rest on Sundays. In addition, they defended the right to breastfeed, that is, that they could breastfeed their newborn children in the factory facilities. The truth is, his requests don’t seem crazy or out of place to me,
But the owner did think they were. So, hand on waist, as easy as anything else, he had the doors of the factory closed and a fire started so that they would put aside their claims and protests and leave the place. Obviously that was not achieved and the fire got out of control, the women died. Many, many years after marches, protests, claims, strikes, finally in December 1977, the General Assembly of the United Nations Organization proclaimed March 8 as the International Day for Women’s Rights and International Peace.
Incredible true? And sad, very sad because unfortunately the fight continues, we women still demand a more equitable society with more gender equality. Equality and non-discrimination between men and women will not be achieved overnight, overnight, not even by decree, but must be the result of gradual changes in the values of our culture and in our society. And I leave you some questions to consider, what do you do to generate this change? Or what can you do? How can you trigger the change? It all starts at home.
