Why do we need March 8

2024 Author: James Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 14:00

Today it is customary to treat March 8 ironically. The fashion for feminism is long gone. They say that the Bolsheviks invented International Women's Day, and therefore they celebrate it only on the territory of the former Soviet Union. But women’s struggle for their rights wasn’t always fun. And this international holiday is truly (albeit not worldwide), and it was not invented by the Bolsheviks, and it has deep historical roots. Let's see why it is on March 8 that women remember their gender.

The beginning of the women's movement for their rights is considered to be 1848, when a congress on the protection of women's rights was held in Seneca Falls (New York, USA) under the slogan "All women and men are created equal."

March 8, 1840. In the West, the word "frigidity" has come into use, which means the absence of sexual desire in a woman. This was a new and very unusual concept: hitherto it was believed that a respectable woman should not and cannot want sex.

March 8, 1850. The average American worker in the textile industry gets $ 1.67 a week, and an American woman gets $ 1.05 a week for the same job. At the same time, a man's working day is 10 hours, a woman's - 16. In France, a printing house worker could receive two francs a day, and a woman - only one. In other European countries, the ratio is approximately the same.

March 8, 1863. The idea that women are able to perceive knowledge in the same way as men seems to scientists to be completely absurd. This year, the Russian Ministry of Public Education responded to the massive requests of women and sent official questions to universities: can women, in the opinion of pundits, listen to lectures together with students? Can they be “admitted to the degree test” and what rights should they enjoy if they pass the exams? The councils of the Moscow and Dorpat universities gave unanimous sharp negative answers to all these questions.

March 8, 1908 - Social Democratic Organization of New York held a rally in defense of women's rights, 15,000 women marched through the city, demanding equal conditions for pay with men and the right to vote.

March 8, 1910. By the decision of the Socialist International (Copenhagen), March 8 was declared International Women's Day. It was initiated by Clara Zetkin, one of the most prominent figures in the socialist movement in Germany.

March 8, 1911. The first International Women's Day was celebrated in Germany, Austria, Denmark and Switzerland on March 19, 1911, with crowded rallies. In 1912, it was celebrated on May 12 in the same countries. In 1913, women rallied in Germany on March 12, in Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Switzerland, Holland - on March 9, in France and Russia - on March 2.

March 2-8, 1913. For the first time in Russia, International Women's Day was celebrated in St. Petersburg. The petition addressed to the mayor announced the organization of "… a scientific morning on the women's issue." One and a half thousand people gathered in the building of the Kalashnikovskaya grain exchange on Poltavskaya street. The agenda of the scientific readings included the following issues: the right to vote for women; state support of motherhood; about the high cost of life.

March 8, 1917. St. Petersburg is experiencing a wave of political strikes. Women of Russia took to the streets on the last Sunday of February with the slogans "Bread and Peace". After 4 days, Emperor Nicholas II abdicated the throne, the interim government guaranteed women the right to vote.

Restrictions on the choice of residence were abolished, complete freedom of employment was proclaimed, women were given equal rights with men.

March 8, 1960. Radical feminism emerged. It has been compared to Marxist feminism, which is based on Friedrich Engels's work On the Origins of the Oppression of Women. Their similarity is that both view the world as a confrontation between two classes: men and women, the proletariat and the bourgeoisie, respectively. Feminism has developed under the influence of life situations typical for women. Feminist social activism focuses on issues such as childbirth rights, domestic violence, maternity leave, equal pay, sexual harassment, discrimination and sexual violence. The basis of feminist ideology - rights, privileges and position in society should not be determined by gender.

March 8, 1966. Since that date in the USSR, International Women's Day has lost its political color and has become the day of all women, one of the few non-political holidays, a non-working day.

In other countries, it remains a purely political event. Throughout the rest of the world, this day is dedicated to the fight against violence that women still suffer, even in very civilized countries, and later begins to be held under the auspices of the United Nations.

March 8, 1980. Women own only 1% of the entire wealth of the planet; they earn only 10% of the total money paid by employers around the world - despite the fact that women make up 51% of the world's population.

March 8, 1996. After a brief attempt to "come to his senses" Bill Clinton called the home of White House assistant Monica Lewinsky, "and made her understand that he wants to start all over again." We all know perfectly well how it ended. The triumph of feminism is evident - the secretary, accusing the president of the country of harassment in court!

March 8, 1999. Taking into account all the time women spend in housework and childcare, a woman's working day is 20% longer than a man's in Western countries (30% in developing countries).

March 8, 2002. Antanas Mockus, the eccentric mayor of Bogotá (the capital of Colombia), banned the male population on March 8 from going out. In his opinion, Colombian women should be given the opportunity not to be harassed on the streets and in public places at least once a year.

March 8, 2008. In most third world countries, women continue to be considered the property of men, just like pets, and in practice have no rights. Millions of women are forced to undergo female circumcision, a form of genital mutilation. In some places, rape is used as a punishment for a crime, even if the crime was not committed by the woman herself.

And yet March 8 is one of the first days of spring

Philip Kirkorov:

I congratulate our beautiful women on the holiday of spring, which has already burst into the capital. I wish all of you to always carry this spring warmth, shine in your eyes and joy in your heart. Let your men pamper you, carry you and shower you with gifts and flowers. May good luck accompany you in everything. And may love always illuminate your path!

Prokhor Chaliapin:

My beloved girls, girls, women, grandmothers, aunts, nieces, daughters and granddaughters! I, Prokhor Chaliapin, want to congratulate all of you on the first real spring holiday - March 8! Lovely, beloved, beautiful, beloved, love to you - the main thing, mutual. Currencies are, most importantly, stable. Smiles - most importantly, sincere. Tears are the main thing, from happiness. You are our main wealth. You are what we live for! Thank you for being there. We love you, happy spring holiday!

Soso Pavliashvili:

I congratulate the beautiful half of humanity on a good and spring holiday - March 8! Dear, adored women, we all love you very much! You are our joy, pride, you are our heart! I wish you with all my heart real female happiness, so that worthy, noble, loving men will always be with you. Be condescending to our shortcomings, remember that many of our successes often depend on your love, faith and support for us.

Alexander Malinin:

Dear and wonderful women. I sincerely congratulate you on a wonderful holiday and wish your men to show all their care, love and warmth not only on this day, but every day, hourly, every minute. May harmony and prosperity reign in your home! And a song always lives in your hearts!