March 8: Is it really necessary to give gifts and buy flowers?

Women have many burdens in life. Illustration: Vocal Media

This article synthesizes diverse perspectives from many authors and experts, and discusses how to celebrate International Women's Day in the most meaningful way.

When women take to the streets

International Women's Day is more than just a holiday on the calendar.

The idea of this day originated with the Socialist Party of America in 1909, then was promoted into a global event by German feminist Clara Zetkin at the women's conference in Copenhagen (Denmark) in 1910.

By 1917, a large demonstration by Russian women demanding "bread and peace " marked the turning point, leading to March 8 being officially chosen as the anniversary.

Kristen Ghodsee, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania (USA), emphasized that this protest was not only a call for women but also attracted the participation of men, paving the way for major changes in Russian society at that time.

Since 1975, the United Nations (UN) has recognized this day, turning it into a global platform to promote gender equality. According to projectf.com.au, UN Women – an organization founded in 2010 – currently leads the March 8 campaign, focusing on issues such as the wage gap, reproductive rights,education and justice for women.

However, the original meaning of the day - a call to action and struggle - seems to be fading in some places, giving way to bouquets of flowers and empty wishes.

How to celebrate the form?

Although widely celebrated, March 8 is not without controversy.

Scout McCraw, in a 2016 forum post, expressed skepticism about setting aside a day to honor women. She argued that if we want to honor women’s achievements, why not honor them every day instead of just on March 8?

McCraw compared March 8 to Black History Month, saying it was like a temporary "band-aid" covering centuries of injustice, after which everything returned to "normal."

McCraw's point is that confining recognition to one day can detract from the ongoing fight for equality.

Maria Meziani, a young writer on voicesofyouth.org, questioned whether setting aside a day for women was a manifestation of reverse sexism.

Meziani argues that celebrating International Women's Day can imply that women are weak and need a special day to be recognized, rather than taking equality for granted.

In Ukraine, blogger Zoya Kazanzhy called IWD “the most artificial and hypocritical holiday,” according to Rferl. She criticized the way the day had been turned into an occasion for giving flowers and chocolates, far from its original goal of fighting for women’s rights.

"Superficial displays of affection cannot improve the lives of women who are really struggling," said Sarah Vine, writing in the Daily Mail.

These opinions seem to show a common reality: International Women's Day is gradually losing its fighting spirit, becoming a formal holiday.

Some opinions say that March 8 is currently too much of a formality. Illustration: Fault Magazine

Image polishing

One of the biggest criticisms of March 8 is that corporations use it to polish their image rather than actually commit to improving women's rights.

Feminist advertising campaigns are rife, but within many companies, pay disparities and unfair work environments persist.

For example, McDonald's Corporation once caused controversy when it flipped its logo upside down to a "W" (short for Women) on March 8 as an act of support for women, but it was exposed as a marketing ploy because the corporation did not have any real reforms to improve the rights of female workers, according to Daily Sabah.

When will the world have gender equality?

Despite progress, gender inequality remains a serious problem. According to Equality Now, it could take the world 286 years to achieve true gender equality without stronger measures.

The gender pay gap, the lack of women in leadership positions, and gender-based violence are prominent issues.

In this context, many activists are calling for March 8 to be transformed into an occasion to promote real change, rather than just greetings or bouquets of flowers and gifts. Gender equality education, legal reform and changes in organizational culture are more important priorities.

International Women's Day in its true sense

Many people believe that improving women's quality of life on a daily basis is more important than focusing on buying flowers and giving gifts on a single day. Illustration: Shutterstock

So how can March 8 truly be meaningful when it is at risk of being diluted by commercialization and formalization?

Projectf recommends that companies use the day to celebrate women's voices, improve internal policies, and educate employees about gender equality.

The role of men as allies in this fight is more emphasized than ever, because cultural change is only possible when both sexes are involved.

Instead of giving gifts and buying flowers, we should focus on events that promote wage equality, access to education and justice, suggests Daily Sabah.

Equality Now calls for support for organizations that fight for women, especially since less than 2% of charitable funds in the US are dedicated to the rights of women and girls.

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