International Women's day was first celebrated in 1857 on March
8th in New York City. It was a general strike in support of
textile workers suffering low wages and atrocious working
conditions. The tragic Triangle fire in New York City (Mar 25,
1911) where 140 women garment workers lost their lives lent
significant meaning to the original intent to regognize the plight
of working women. In the wake of this tragedy, International
Women's day began to be commemorated elsewhere including Denmark,
Austria, Germany, and Switzerland, (1911-12) and pre-Bulshivik Russia
(1913). This day became a means for women to rally in protest of
the First World War in 1914-1917. Since WW2, this day has been
adopted in 3rd world countries where conditions for working women
have been particularly oppressive. The United Nations began
celebrating International Women's day in 1977. Because of its
socialist origins, the holiday has never gained mainstream
political support in the USA where it all began.
For more info, see the United Nations
page: http://www.undp.org/fwcw/8march.htm
Martin R.
On Tue, 9 Mar 1999, Eugene Matusov wrote:
> Hi everybody--
>
> I'm joining Ricardo in his solidarity with women. I want to know if
> somebody knows the history of the March 8th day as the International Day of
> solidity with women. When and how did this celebration start? What is the
> story behind it? I know that very few people in the US celebrate or even
> know about this day. Why is it so?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Eugene
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Ricardo Ottoni <rjapias who-is-at ibm.net>
> To: xmca who-is-at weber.ucsd.edu <xmca@weber.ucsd.edu>
> Date: Monday, March 08, 1999 11:16 PM
> Subject: Women's international day
>
>
> >To all women in this list,
> >my solidarity,
> >and
> >as Barbara Kruger said on an out-door here, in Brazil, in 1992:
> >"Women do not have to be in silence"
> >
> >Ricardo.
>