#BTEditorial – Saluting all females on International Women’s Day

Friday is a significant day in world history and Barbados, much like the rest of the Caribbean, acknowledges this day in a big way. International Women’s Day is significant not only because of what it currently represents but largely because of the historical background and events that inform this day.

March 8, International Women’s Day, is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women across the globe. The day marks a call to action for pushing women’s equality.

International Women’s Day is an official holiday in many countries, including Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cuba, Georgia, Guinea-Bissau, Eritrea, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, and Zambia. In China, Madagascar and Nepal the holiday is for women only. In Germany, parliament approved a bill in 2019 to make International Women’s Day a public holiday.

Purple, green and white are the colours of International Women’s Day. Purple signifies justice and dignity, and being loyal to the cause. Green symbolises hope. White represents purity. 

The day has been marked for over a century with the first gathering of over one million people in 1911. Its origins come from a place of oppression and adversity. The initial days were not celebrations but a form of solidarity with women who were fighting tooth and nail for basic rights; rights which we may take for granted today.

Several historic events have helped to shape the existence of the day.

1909: The first National Woman’s Day was observed in the United States on February 28. The Socialist Party of America designated this day in honour of the 1908 garment workers’ strike in New York, where women protested against working conditions.

1910: The Socialist International meeting in Copenhagen, Denmark established a Women’s Day, international in character, to honour the movement for women’s rights and to build support for achieving universal suffrage for women.

1911: A day for women was celebrated in several European countries and in the United States. But the celebration occurred on March 19, in commemoration of the revolution of 1848 and of the “Commune de Paris”. In addition to the right to vote and to hold public office, they demanded women’s rights to work, vocational training and an end to discrimination on the job.

1977: The day was officially recognised by the United Nations. International Women’s Day first emerged from the activities of labour movements at the turn of the 20th century in North America and across Europe.

Our reality is that women have fought hard for equality and to have a seat at the table. Sadly, for Black women, this fight has been compounded. Over the years, women of all skills, talents and professions have found it challenging to compete and even surpass men.

We are now at a place where we are witnessing more and more women not only in key leadership roles but heading households as well. This has been a hard and long journey for the gender considered the “bearer of life”.

We have seen a major shift and change in what was once a male-dominated world. Here in Barbados and the Caribbean, we have excellent examples of women excelling in all areas of endeavour.

Published studies – some conducted throughout the English-speaking Caribbean – show that the number of women in today’s workforce exceeds that of their male counterparts. Additionally, women hold key roles in organisations.

There are many activities planned for Friday and there were some targeted events already held throughout this week. This year’s UN theme for the day, Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress is apt. An investment in women, be it through education, work opportunities, personal advancement, economic stability, mental and physical health, or spirituality will automatically benefit society as a whole. Our countries and economies continue to reap the sweets off the backs of hard-working, industrious, dedicated and loyal women.

Given the origins of International Women’s Day and what has been accomplished so far, there should be no doubt as to why it has a place on the global calendar. It must always be celebrated and long may it be so.

We make a fuss about the day, not because we think women are better than men; not because we push gender inequality, wanting women to dominate men; not because we favour women over men. We celebrate International Women’s Day and make it a grand occasion simply because against all odds, women have held their own and continue to “keep on keeping on”.

Women in Barbados and the diaspora, we salute you; we commend you for your invaluable contribution to family, to community and to country.

On behalf of the chairman, management and staff at Barbados TODAY, we wish all ladies Happy International Women’s Day!