03/08/2024
International Women’s Day was in the making since the turn of the 19th century. This was the time of women’s suffrage movements and labor strikes, where women were demanding better pay and shorter hours.The moment was actually considered Socialist and Communist aligned, it was Russia to first officially adopt March 8th as their IWD- women campaigned against the War, held rallies, and were coming together in record breaking masses.
The UN did not official adopt International Women’s Day until 1975.
In Italy, they officialized the commemoration in 1946, just a year after the end if WWII. They picked the mimosa flower, in part because of its March seasonality, but also because of its resilience- the flower can stay beautiful and alive over a period of weeks.
The female body is a force to be reckoned with and for that reason, is a constant threat to insecure expressions of power. it withstands all kinds of societal projections, and in hard times often becomes the symbol for territory and the need to dominate. It is also the source of life. Damn… a power that when unleashed is unstoppable.
The war on Palestine 🇵🇸 has made the start to this year heavy, when so many of us have been trying to still crawl out of the pandemic. Palestinian women can’t even rally with their own bodies because they can only focus on keeping them breathing and functioning, making it to the next day. I’ve been at a real loss as to what to do and what to contribute, especially when you your own country’s leaders don’t speak up or help make your voice, the people’s voice, heard. I’m working up some fundraising ideas, stay tuned…
Right now, I’m in awe all the women - women I never even knew, who are part of the lineage that carried me to this present moment. You are the culmination of everything before you and that’s incredible and powerful- you have power.
