The 8th of March is International Women’s Day. Rather than celebrating women for their already recognised ‘superpowers’, such as their enormous multitasking capacity, this day pays homage to a past of struggle and conquests, in search of equality and freedom.
A date with history
The story goes that the demands of women workers in a textile factory in New York in 1857 gave rise to the celebration of Women’s Day around the world. Over the years, women continued to make their voices heard, uniting in various demonstrations. In 1908, more than 14,000 women joined a march through the streets of New York. They marched with the slogan ‘Bread and Roses’, where bread symbolised economic stability and delicate roses a better quality of life.
That year, the US Socialist Party declared the last Sunday in February International Women’s Day. But it was during the world conference of socialist organisations in Copenhagen that the German revolutionary Clara Zetkin proposed the 8th of March as International Women’s Day. It’s a date that reinforces international solidarity between women workers in the fight for common goals and a demonstration of their organised strength. The aim is for prejudice and the devaluation of women to one day come to an end.
We would like to take this opportunity to honour all women, especially those who are part of the Horto do Campo Grande team – represented here by our florist Ana, by Lena, who has been with us for over 30 years, and by Inês, who has just arrived – and offer some suggestions for celebrating this very special day.
