9 Great Reads (and 1 fab video) for International Women's Day
“The rich woman has the right to life and the sun and music and art. You have nothing that the humblest worker has not a right to have also. The worker must have bread, but she must have roses, too.”
— Rose Schneiderman, a socialist who worked tirelessly against conditions that caused the Triangle Fire and who coined the term “bread and roses,” demanding that women have the right ‘to live, not simply exist’
FYI
Sometimes I think of days or months devoted to a cause as fluff. They’re important causes that need attention all year long so what does one day of recognition do? I don’t know how much it actually does but they make more sense if you pause to think about their origins.
International Women’s Day (IWD) came about during early 20th century industrialization which brought inequality and inhumane conditions for women, spurring women to become more vocal and active in campaigning for change. The actual day was established during the Conference of Working Women in Copenhagen in 1910. The reasons we eventually settled on March 8th, however, vary.
Two big events can be traced back to March 8th. The first was in New York City in 1857 when laborers (almost all women) in the garment industry initiated a strike and rallied in the streets to protest against appalling working conditions, extended work hours, and inadequate wages. The second was a massive protest in Russia in 1917 by widows, wives and mothers of men who died or were injured during the war. That led to the country’s eventual withdrawal from the war and ignited the Russian Revolution.
TL;DR Women are powerful when they organize and support each other
Great Reads Here
There is so much good content out there so like everyone else’s lists, mine is random. That said, I chose pieces that are informative and will inspire all the feels from infuriating to hopeful.
Mine from yesterday: This piece has been getting a lot of love from readers so here it is in case you missed it: Why Your Daughter’s Version of Body Autonomy Might Look Different Than Yours…And how to bridge the gap
Informative and wise: If You Know A Kid About To Go To College In A State With Abortion Restrictions, Read This by Debi Lewis in Huffpost
It’s about damn time: First U.S. Over-the-Counter Birth Control Pill Will Be Available Soon by Pam Belluck in the New York Times
Maddening (just look at the pictures! But also read it): Respect for Manthority: Knowledge is power, unless you’re a woman by
at Playing With FireEnshrined!: France becomes the only country to explicitly guarantee abortion as a constitutional right by Barbara Surk and Nicolas Garriga in the AP
Inspiring piece, inspiring woman: Women’s Inclusivity is Our Superpower by Zibby Owens at
Unbelievable (and it’s not just Missouri): An Insane Missouri Law Prevents Pregnant Women From Getting Divorced—Even If They’re Victims of Domestic Violence by Bess Levin in Vanity Fair
Hopeful and heartfelt: International Women’s Day 2024 around the world – in pictures by Matt Fiddler in the Guardian
Must (re)read —old book that’s sadly relevant again: Backlash: The Undeclared War Against American Women by Susan Faludi
Video magic from @femalequotient on Instagram
Happy International Women’s Day. So grateful for all of you who read and subscribe. Your support makes all the difference.
xoJo
Cannot wait to read through the list of resources.