You know it’s March when cherry trees prepare to bloom. It’s also a month of female-oriented events. In the U.S. the entire month carries the label “Women’s History Month.” Go to any library or school campus, and you’ll probably see displays of notable women. Visibility in a good thing, but is it enough?

Wednesday, March 8 is International Women’s Day. I blogged about this last year, and not much has changed for the better. You can see the blog here.

WOMEN & THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION

This year I’d like to mention the effect Women’s Day has had on history, because this week also marks the anniversary of the 1917 February Revolution* in Russia. Events ignited on Women’s Day.

The march rose out of severe poverty and deprivation. The price for a one-pound loaf of rye bread rose from three kopeks in 1913 to 18 in 1917. Women worked twelve hours a day in factories and then stood in line to buy bread. The Russians were losing badly against the Germans in World War I. And the winter was brutally cold. In January a police report observed:

“Mothers of families, exhausted by endless standing in line at stores, distraught over their half starving and sick children, are today perhaps closer to revolution than [the liberal opposition leaders] and of course they are a great deal more dangerous because they are the combustible material for which only a single spark is needed to burst into flame.”

Women united around the issues of bread and peace. On International Women’s Day ten thousand women marched with banners proclaiming: “Down With Autocracy;” “Down With War;” “Our Husbands Must Return from the Front;” “Peace and Bread.” Their call for a General Strike succeeded. The revolution quickly spread to Moscow and other cities.

THE AMERICAN RESPONSE

For many years mainstream Americans shunned the very idea of International Women’s Day as a day observed by Socialists, Communists, and other extreme political activists. During the 1960s feminists revived the day which was recognized by the United Nations in 1975.

A NEW CALL FOR CHANGE

This year’s United Nations Theme is “Women in the Changing World of Work: Planet 50-50 by 2030.” Many women don’t want to wait until 2030 or longer for extreme social change. “Lean-In feminism” for women in corporate America isn’t enough.

A new feminist theme calling for immediate change in social and economic policies is gaining global strength., In the United States organizers of the recent Women’s March on Washington urge women from all walks of life to make March 8 a #DayWithoutAWoman. 

Building on the premise that society won’t appreciate women’s many contributions until they are withdrawn, organizers urge women to take a day off from paid and unpaid labor and avoid shopping (with the exception of small women and minority owned businesses.) Not everyone can take a day off. But supporters can wear red in solidarity with other women observing the day.

Organizers in the United Kingdom added the broom as a symbol, because together the bristles are strong. This is true, but in my view brooms are too associated with women’s traditional work to symbolize change.

FREE ADMISSION

In a separate observance of International Women’s Day the Italian Minister of Cultural Heritage announced Italy will  celebrate the feminine world in art by and of women. Museums will waive admission charges on March 8 to celebrate women from all walks of life.

HINAMATSURI aka DOLLS’ DAY

We’ve touched on art, history, and politics. Now it’s time to mention dolls and a celebration of traditional female attributes. Specifically Girl’s Day observed in Japan on the third day of the third month. It’s past for another year; the dolls have been taken down. I mention Girl’s Day because it represents a charming custom from another time. And I wonder if there’s space in contemporary feminism for such an observance.

Hina Matsuri began in ancient Heian Japan. Straw dolls sat on small boats sent downriver towards the sea to take bad spirits with them. A public expression of a desire to protect daughters.

Japanese girls receive elaborate dolls that are displayed on platforms up to seven stories high. Red carpet covers each level. Dolls for the Emperor and Empress preside at the highest level. Attendants and musicians populate lower platforms. Only homes with a daughter can put up the display towards the end of February. It comes down no later than March 4. Depending on family traditions, a display left up too long could bring bad luck, or the dolls might come to life and cause havoc. At the very least, the neighbors will notice.

A complete set of dolls purchased in Japan costs thousands of dollars, but most families pass the dolls through the generations.

There are, of course, special foods. One of these is Ushiojiru, a clam soup. The clams are left in their shells. The mating of the two halves represents the hope of future romance and harmony for the girls.

It might seem odd to join Girl’s Day Celebrations with International Women’s Day. But it’s important to remember the diversity which unites women and girls around the globe.

The uniting theme of International Women’s Day in 2017 is #BeBoldForChange. A phrase with a different meaning for each of us.

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*In 1917 Russia used the Julian Calendar while the West used the Gregorian Calendar, so events occurring in Russia in February are dated elsewhere in March.

Illustrations from Wikimedia Commons.

Cherry Blossom by Joe Ito. Creative Commons Attribution.

International Women’s Day – February Revolution. Public Domain.

Brooms for Sale in a Tbilisi Market by Vladimir Shioshvili. Creative Commons Attribution.

Emperor and Empress Dolls. Hina Dolls by tab2dawa. Creative Commons Attribution.

Hinamaturi Doll Display at Japanese Import Store. Public Domain.

Clam Soup, Taiwan by Takoradee. Creative Commons Attribution.

Quotation for Russian police report quoted in Bonnie S. Anderson and Judith P. Zinsser. A History of Their Own, Vol. 2. NY: Harper & Row. 1988. p.298.

International Women’s Day.

UN Women. International Women’s Day 2017.

Women’s March. A Day Without Women.

“March 3 is Girl’s Day in Japan.” XPat Nation. Feb. 26, 2016

Linda Martin Alcoff. “Women of America: we’re going on strike.” The Guardian. Feb. 6, 2017.

Mary Bulman. “Italy Gives All Women Free Entry.” The Independent. March 3, 2017.

Alexandra Topping. “Wear Red, Down Tools, and Buy Local for International Women’s Day. The Guardian. March 3, 2017.

Tiffanie Wen. “International Women’s Day Hs an Unexpected History.” The Daily Beast. March 7, 2014.

The post ART, HISTORY, POLITICS, & DOLLS first appeared on Sandra Wagner-Wright.

The “We Can Do It” poster was first produced in 1943 by Westinghouse Electric to boost worker morale. It was part of a series of posters displayed by the company. The phrase “we can do it”  wasn’t about female war workers in particular. It meant Westinghouse employees could war reach production goals by working together. The women’s movement embraced the poster during the 1980s, interpreting the slogan as “women can do it.”

Women have made many strides in education, economic participation, and career success, but, according to the Census Bureau, despite their qualifications, women still haven’t achieved wage parity. How long before women receive equal pay instead of 78 cents on the dollar?

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY: A Time to Reflect

Tuesday, March 8th marks International Women’s Day, a perfect time to reflect on the changed status of American women in the workplace. Originally the name was more political. In 1909 the Socialist Party of America came up with International Working Women’s Day to honor the International Ladies’ Garment Union. On March 8, 1908, 15,000 women garment workers rallied at Union Square to demand economic and political rights. To a certain extent, they achieved their goal. It was a proud moment for labor.

In 1910 the meeting of the International Women’s Conference in Copenhagen passed a motion to make Women’s Day truly international.

This 1914 German poster demands: Give Us Women’s Suffrage. Until now, prejudice and reactionary attitudes have denied full civic rights to women, who as workers, mothers, and citizens wholly fulfill their duty, who must pay their taxes to the state as well as the municipality. Fighting for this natural human right must be the firm, unwavering intention of every woman, every female worker. In this, no pause for rest, no respite is allowed. Come all, you women and girls, to the 9th public women’s assembly on Sunday, March 8, 1914, at 3pm.

By 1924 the angry German socialist woman with her red flag was replaced by a strong woman who held her child on her left shoulder while fending off international capitalists with her strong right arm.

The socialist emphasis continued until 1975 when the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted a resolution proclaiming the United Nations Day for Women’s Rights and International Peace to be observed by member states on any day of the year.

Has International Women’s Day made a difference? Perhaps.

In the United States women vote, run for, and are elected to political office. Women graduate from college at a faster pace than men. They have more bachelor’s and graduate degrees. Women are the equal if not the primary breadwinner in four out of ten families.

But statistically women earn 78 cents for every dollar earned by men.

We now have a new commemorative day: Equal Pay Day

Equal Pay Day is the day when women earn as much as men in a year. Last year Equal Pay Day was April 14, 2015. So, for women to earn an annual income equivalent to male income, their year required 60 extra days.

Like all statistics, this figure can be massaged. According to the Washington Post fact checker, if one looks at weekly wages, the gap is reduced from a 22 cent differential to an 18 cent gap. And if hourly wages are considered, the gap falls further to 13 cents.

Pundits suggest this is not due to discrimination, but life choices. Since the 1950s the most common job for women has been secretary or its equivalent title, while men have been drivers, sales workers, and investment managers. Women work part time. Women choose jobs with less pay and more flexible hours. Women leave the workforce to raise children.

But the theory doesn’t hold up. Women are 70 per cent of elementary and middle school teachers, yet men in the same profession earn more. Men’s weekly median wage is $1096, compred to women’s $956 which works out to 87 cents on the dollar. Among full time lawyers, women earn 83 cents.

Margie Warrell suggests everyone must take personal responsibility to close the gap. Women need to be aware of their own value. She cites a study Cornell University did on beginning salaries for MBA graduates of Carnegie Mellon. Male graduates earned $4000 more annually than females. However 57 percent of men asked for higher salaries. Only 7 percent of women did the same.

Pledge for Parity

This year the theme for International Women’s Day is #PledgeForParity. This is a pledge made by every individual to take a concrete step towards achieving gender parity more quickly. Suggestions include mentoring women and girls to achieve their ambitions, demanding gender balance in leadership, and respect for personal differences.

Last year the World Economic Forum estimated that the pay gap between men and women might not even out before 2133 and it could take as long as 2159.

That’s a long time to wait for Parity.

We cannot succeed when half of us are held back.

                                                    — Malala Yousafzai

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Featured Image: “We Can Do It” poster for Westinghouse. Public Domain. Wikimedia Commons.

Pictures:

Frauentag 1914. Public Domain. Wikimedia Commons.

Frauentag 1924. Public Domain. Wikimedia Commons.

Equal Pay Day Flag by Thomas Pusch. 2014. Creative Commons Attribution. Wikimedia Commons.

Fact Checker. “The Equal Pay Day Factoid that women make 78 cents for every dollar earned by men.” Washington Post. April 2, 2015.

International Women’s Day website

Pay Equity and Discrimination. Institute for Women’s Policy Research.

Kathy Durkin. “A Rich Tradition.” Workers World. March 7, 2008.

Sara Ashley O’Brian. “78 cents on the dollar.” CNN Money. April 14, 2015.

Eileen Patten “On Equal Pay Day, Key Facts About the Gender Pay Gap.” Pew Research Center. April 14, 2015.

Margie Warrell. “Closing the Gender Gap is Everyone’s Business.” Forbes.com. March 3, 2015.

The post International Women’s Day: We Can Do It first appeared on Sandra Wagner-Wright.