March 8: A Day without Women

Women globally have organised a special strike in honour of Women’s Day 2017

Attention! Calling out to all our women out there!

Today marks a very special, in fact a one-of-a-kind Women’s Day. This year, March 8 will also be ‘A Day without Women’ – a protest organised by the brains behind January’s Women’s March on Washington, in coordination with women across 30 different countries.

Kristen Stewart at the Women's March in January. PHOTO: MARIE CLAIRE

The purpose behind this Women’s Strike of sorts is to highlight the enormous value that women of all backgrounds add to the world’s socio-economic systems, all while receiving lower wages and experiencing greater inequities, vulnerability to discrimination, sexual harassment and job insecurity, reported Marie Claire.

Miley Cyrus at the Women's March in January. PHOTO: MARIE CLAIRE International Women’s Day: ‘Women have made great achievements’

As per various reports, the Strike has been getting heaps of praise from women across the globe, who regard it as a way to continue the momentum generated by the Women’s March on Washington.



John Legend at the Women's March in January. PHOTO: MARIE CLAIRE

However, there have also been reports of people criticising the idea, claiming that striking or protesting in themselves are acts of privilege and that too, one that not every woman can afford.

Jessica Chastain, Chloe Grace Moretz at the Women's March in January. PHOTO: MARIE CLAIRE

Nonetheless, the organisers remain adamant. According to them, the Women’s Strike draws inspiration from the recent ‘Bodega Strike’ in New York City, when Yemeni-owned bodegas shuttered their stores in response to US President Donald Trump’s recent ban on immigration. It is also inspired by the ‘A Day without Immigrants’ move.



Alicia Keys at the Women's March in January. PHOTO: MARIE CLAIRE

The organisers also applaud the success of the #GrabYourWallet movement, which managed to persuade major US department store chain Nordstrom to stop selling clothing and accessories produced by the first daughter Ivanka Trump, among other accomplishments.

Scarlett Johansson, Cher at the Women's March in January. PHOTO: MARIE CLAIRE

It must be noted that for non-cisgender women and many women of colour, the Women’s March on Washington was too exclusive, ‘A Day without Women’ on the other hand, aims to fight for “gender justice for all women,” irrespective of whichever race, religion and ethnicity they might belong too. Their immigration status, sexual orientation, gender expression, economic status, age and disabilities have also been deemed immaterial by the Women’s Strike.

Katy Perry at the Women's March in January. PHOTO: MARIE CLAIRE

However, it must be noted that the Women’s Strike is not without its own flaws and controversies. Many women cannot afford to take the day off midweek to participate in the march. Others don’t have the privilege of choosing when they work.



Sophia Bush, Amy Schumer at the Women's March in January. PHOTO: MARIE CLAIRE

Many skeptics also claim that the Strike lacks a unified vision and takes on way too many women-related issues all at once – but nonetheless, what we take away from this initiative is that striving to achieve equality must be made priority, regardless of any backlash this particular  protest might receive.

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