Feminism

International Women’s Day

Winter is finally over, and we gladly welcome the first signs of spring. The first international holiday is the 8th of March. It is a day to recognize the progress made towards gender equality, and to call for greater action for empowerment. Today, we thought it would be nice to remember brave women who changed the world and to discuss what it means to be a feminist.

Why 8th of March?

But first, a bit of history - the idea of celebrating a day dedicated to women's rights and empowerment originated in the early 20th century, with the first observance held in the United States on February 28th, 1909. However, it wasn't until March 8th, 1917, that the date became associated with the modern feminist movement. On that day, women in Russia organized a demonstration to demand an end to World War I, an end to food shortages, and the overthrow of the Tsarist government. This protest, which became known as the "Women's Strike for Bread and Peace," marked the beginning of the Russian Revolution.
In 1921, the date of March 8th was officially adopted as International Women's Day by the International Women's Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark. Since then, it has been celebrated annually around the world as a day to recognize and promote women's social, economic, cultural, and political achievements, as well as to raise awareness of ongoing gender inequality and the need for continued progress towards gender equity.

Girls may not run the world, but they can change it

There have been many influential feminists throughout history who have worked tirelessly to advance women's rights and gender equality. Here are some of the most important feminists in history:
Mary Wollstonecraft: Often considered the "mother of modern feminism," Wollstonecraft was an 18th-century writer and philosopher who argued for women's education and political rights.
Susan B. Anthony: A key figure in the women's suffrage movement in the United States, Anthony helped secure the right to vote for women through her tireless campaigning and activism.
Sojourner Truth: An African American abolitionist and women's rights activist, Truth delivered her famous "Ain't I a Woman?" speech at a women's rights convention in 1851.
Gloria Steinem: A prominent figure in the second-wave feminist movement in the 1960s and 1970s, Steinem co-founded Ms. magazine and has been an influential writer and activist for women's rights for decades.
Simone de Beauvoir: A French writer and philosopher, de Beauvoir is best known for her seminal work, "The Second Sex," which challenged traditional gender roles and argued for women's freedom and equality.
Audre Lorde: A black feminist poet, writer, and activist, Lorde was a prominent voice in the feminist and civil rights movements of the 1960s and 1970s, advocating for the intersectional struggles of women of colour and the LGBTQ+ community.
Malala Yousafzai: A Pakistani activist for education and women's rights, Yousafzai survived an assassination attempt by the Taliban in 2012 and has since become a global advocate for girls' education.

Types and point of feminism

There are many different types of feminism, each with its own particular focus and perspective. Here are some of the most recognized types:
Liberal feminism: Focuses on achieving gender equality through legal and policy reforms, as well as through changing attitudes and beliefs about women's roles in society.
Radical feminism: Argues that gender inequality is rooted in patriarchal power structures and seeks to challenge and dismantle those structures through collective action and feminist consciousness-raising.
Intersectional feminism: Recognizes and addresses the ways in which different forms of oppression intersect and compound each other, such as the ways in which gender, race, class, sexuality, and other factors interact to create unique experiences of marginalization and privilege.
Ecofeminism: Links feminist and environmental concerns, recognizing the interconnectedness of gender oppression and the exploitation and destruction of the natural world.
Postcolonial feminism: Examines the impact of colonialism and imperialism on women's lives and seeks to deconstruct the Western-centric biases of mainstream feminism.
These are just a few examples of the different types of feminism that exist and there are many different perspectives and approaches within it. It is a rocky road, and inevitably there will be some mistakes along the way. Like any political movement, feminism can take wrong turns, be misunderstood, and misjudged. It is an endless process of learning about diversity and inclusiveness. Feminism is not about making one gender more important than the other, it is not about hating men or arguing who must pay on the first date. It is about having equal rights, opportunities, and ability to make choices in every aspect of life without being judged. It is really that simple (in theory). However, the same discriminatory dialogues keep happening repeatedly. This is why is it important to keep fighting for your rights. To notice the faults of the system and to at least try and make our voices heard. To know own privileges and to help those, who lack them by spreading awareness, helping in shelters, or making donations. To celebrate March 8th and to be proud of being a feminist.

Written by Tatiana Chernyshova