International Women's Day (8 March) is an occasion marked by women's groups around the world. This date is also commemorated at the United Nations and is designated in many countries as a national holiday. When women on all continents, often divided by national boundaries and by ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic and political differences, come together to celebrate their Day, they can look back to a tradition that represents at least nine decades of struggle for equality, justice, peace and development.
International Women's Day is the story of ordinary women as makers of history; it is rooted in the centuries-old struggle of women to participate in society on an equal footing with men. In ancient Greece, Lysistrata initiated a sexual strike against men in order to end war; during the French Revolution, Parisian women calling for "liberty, equality, fraternity" marched on Versailles to demand women's suffrage.
Last Saturday, during a conversation about diversity with school people, the value of women in society was reiterated by the person conducting the training. A view that I've always shared. That's why I go to yWca (instead of yMca), there misssion is "eliminating racism, empowering women".
March 8th, this year was a Tuesday, I was at the coffee shop in my usual break before teaching at Spring Hill School. Suddendly I remembered it was Int's Women's Day and since my mom (and other women in my life) are so far away, I decided to buy flowers and give them to every woman I found my way. And so I did.
Today, at the same coffee shop, one of those women, recipient of my flowers, let me know how much she appreciated that gesture from me. He mentioned that she took the flower to her office, and it lasted for 3 weeks and made her days different (hopefully better) in a way. I was very touched by this comment. Sometimes you never know how your actions will affect people's lives.
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