International Women's Day - Clara Zetkin, Taylor Swift and being creative
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| Taylor Swift in the movie Amsterdam |
International Women's Day on March 8 celebrates the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. The day marks a call to action for us to accelerate women's equality.
History
Clara Zetkin, communist activist and advocate for women's rights suggested making the day international at an International Conference of Working Women in Copenhagen. 100 women from 17 countries agreed on her suggestion unanimously.
Zetkin went into exile and died in the Soviet Union at the age of 75. Her ashes are in the Kremlin Wall Necropolis, near the Red Square. The funeral was attended by leading communists , including Joseph Stalin and Nadezhda Krupskaya (Lenin's widow).
Zetkin has been memorialized on the ten mark banknote and twenty mark coin of the German Democratic Republic of East Germany. Also, after 1949, every major city in the GDR had a street named after her.
Why?
Do we need a special day to celebrate women? We're pretty amazing every day of the year! From fighting for the right to vote to shattering glass ceilings in male-dominated fields, plus the many contributions we make to society every day - we've come a long way since IWD was first proposed. However, women still face many challenges in 2023.
In the UK, pay equality, gender violence, harassment, sexism and the changes to abortion laws continue to be issues.
So let's celebrate!
Taylor Swift is a prominent and successful woman who has had to fight for many of these things through her career. I just saw her in David Owen Russell's Amsterdam, and she was brilliant, BTW.
Rather than focusing on her struggles, let's just talk about how her name that has become synonymous with pop music. From humble beginnings as a country singer to global superstar, Swift has captured the hearts of millions with her music, style, and talent.
Swift crafts catchy melodies and heartfelt lyrics that resonate with fans . "Shake It Off" is one of my favourite pick-me-up songs. She connects with her fans on a personal level and speaks out on issues that matter to her, including advocating for LGBTQ+ rights, women's rights, and mental health awareness.
Let's be creative
Other than reflecting on successful women, here are some creative ways to celebrate International Women's Day.
1. A "galentine's day" party with female friends.
2. A movie marathon featuring your favorite female-led films, such as "Legally Blonde," "Hidden Figures," and "Wonder Woman."
3. Calling or messaging a woman in your life and praising her, or even write a letter to the women who have made a difference in your life.
4. Create a vision board featuring your favorite female role models to inspire you to reach your own goals and dreams.
5. Challenge yourself to learn more about the history of women's rights, or to speak out when you witness gender discrimination in your own life.
6. Support female-owned businesses and organizations.
7. Celebrate the amazing women in our lives - mothers, sisters, friends, or colleagues.
Wishing you all a happy IWD!
Here are some links you may be interested in:
- To find out more about International Women's Day - check out internationalwomensday.com.
- Find out more about Taylor Swift on her official website.
- A paper read by Clara Zetkin to the Conference of Women belonging to the Social-Democratic Party held at Mannheim before the opening of the 1906 Annual Congress of the German Social-Democracy can be read for free on Project Gutenberg.
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