Every year at the beginning of March, men in the post-Soviet space storm flower shops en masse, instant messaging apps are filled with postcards featuring mimosas, and the word "femininity" is heard more often than in glossy magazines.
But if the creators of International Women's Day had seen what all this has become, they would have been very surprised!
Spoiler: it wasn't originally intended to be a holiday of "beauty and tenderness."
Let's start with the fact that March 8th was conceived as a day of protest. Yes, without pink ribbons and discounts on cosmetics.
In 1910, activist Clara Zetkin proposed establishing an international women's solidarity day in Copenhagen. Not to give glitter-filled postcards, but to demand:
-the right to vote,
-normal working conditions,
-equal pay,
-respect for women as full citizens.
So, it wasn't a "day of compliments," but a "day of demands." You'll agree, the difference is palpable.
Why March 8th?
Because women have the power to change the course of history.
On March 8th, 1917, women took to the streets of Petrograd with slogans calling for "Bread and Peace." This became one of the starting points of the revolutionary events.
Later, the date became established, and in 1975, this holiday was officially recognized by the United Nations.
So, yes, the holiday has quite a serious history.
And now let's fast-forward to the present day.
Today, March 8th means:
-tulips,
-candy,
-corporate parties,
and sudden male activity in flower shops.
The political overtones in post-Soviet countries have noticeably softened. The day of struggle has gradually become a day of spring. Instead of "equal pay," we often hear "stay as sweet as you are."
The irony is that women initially fought to be taken seriously, but ended up with a holiday where they are congratulated for "smiles and inspiration."
Has the meaning of the holiday been lost?
Not quite. In Europe and Latin America, March 8th is once again becoming a day of marches and conversations about violence, discrimination, and inequality. The social agenda is making a comeback.
But here, the holiday has a double life: on the one hand, bouquets and cards, on the other, there's increasing talk about equal opportunities, careers, and role balance.
So what is this day really about?
The truth is that March 8th is no longer just about struggle and not just about flowers.
After all, no one is stopping you from simultaneously receiving tulips and remembering that women once took to the streets not for bouquets, but for civil rights.