very year on March 8th, people everywhere celebrate International Women’s Day (IWD). The occasion is observed by countries across the world, universally celebrating women’s achievements in society. Yet the meaning of “achievement” varies from country to county, and the origins of the holiday are even more fascinating.
The Fascinating Origins of IWD
International Women’s Day has radical roots in the socialist movements of the early 20th century. Women’s rights activism proliferated in the early 1900s, and women’s march in 1908 for better working conditions spurred the Socialist Party of America to declare February 28th; the first National Women’s Day in America. Two years later, the International Conference of Working Women unanimously approved a proposal for an annual International Women’s Day. The inception of the holiday was motivated in part by a desire for better pay and shorter hours in the factories and under the smoke stacks, firmly rooting the history of the celebration in America’s early socialist organizations.
Soon enough, International Women’s Day took on a revolutionary tone at the forefront of the Russian Revolution. Russia adopted the holiday in 1913 and on the very day four years later, women gathered in the streets to protest the resulting mass deaths and food shortages of the first World War. The protests sparked a wave of workers’ strikes across the country in the subsequent weeks. By the end of the year, women had gained the right to vote across the nation — making Russia the first country where women had this right.
Currently, 27 countries across the world have recognized IWD as a national holiday. Most of these are former republics of the Soviet Union, reflecting the socialist origins of the holiday. The holiday is widely celebrated in these countries, which until recently was not the case in the West. Although the idea for IWD originated in the United States, the day was not as well known as it was, and continues to be, in the former Soviet Union. This is likely because of IWD’s association with the USSR during the Cold War, inhibiting any real recognition of the holiday for the years to come. It was only in 1975, when the United Nations declared an International Women’s Day on March 8th, that the holiday gained more popular traction in the West and elsewhere.
Differing Takes on IWD Today
Today, the holiday is a celebration of women’s rights and the obstacles they’ve overcome, as well as a reminder of what they still face. The U.S. Department of State issued a statement last year recognized IWD, reaffirming America’s “commitment to women’s empowerment and gender equality at home and around the globe.” In the late 1980s, Congress declared the entire month of March as “Women’s History Month.” Each year since, the president has recognized women who have made significant achievements throughout American history in social, political, and academic fields.
Each year the United Nations announces a theme for the holiday. Their chosen theme for 2022 is “Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow.” With the statement, the message is clear: women have a critical role to play in combating climate change. Additionally, a social media campaign to push for gender equality is trending with the hashtag #BreakTheBias in the days leading up to IWD. By Western standards, International Women’s Day is a time to promote a world free of bias and gender discrimination. However, the meaning of the day still varies regionally.
In Russia today, International Women’s Day is similar to Mother’s Day or Valentine’s Day. Citizens celebrate women’s role in society, usually from more of a traditional point of view. As the years have passed, the holiday has lost much of its original political messaging in former Soviet states, becoming much more of a “card and flowers” day than one for protest and demands for equality. In 2019, President Vladimir Putin appeared on the state TV to wish his, “best greetings on International Women's Day,” and stated that, “this spring day is always full of flowers and gifts, lit up with the joy of our women and your shining smiles." In the address, Putin also celebrated women’s roles as mothers, with their ability to work and take care of their families. While IWD is clearly still recognized as an important day even by the Russian state, its meaning has clearly changed, being now more focused on celebrating traditional views on the roles of women in Russian society.
Many view Russia’s turn toward traditional values as a rejection of progressive Western values. Feminism is seen as a taboo subject among Russian citizens, where as it’s common place in Western vocabulary. Furthermore, Russia faces real issues around gender inequality — something which remains ignored by their National Women’s Day celebrations. In 2017, President Vladmir Putin abated the penalties for domestic violence disputes by decriminalizing cases where the victim was not seriously harmed. A move which angered many women’s rights activists and human rights organizations. As of 2021, only 15.8% of seats in the Russian parliament were held by women. Though, despite the gender bias in the Kremlin, Russia is not completely free of an ongoing women’s rights movement.
In 2021, the SotsFem Alternative socialist feminist group and the Scoiatlist Alternative held a mass protest for equal rights in the days leading up the International Women’s Day. The strike was primarily university students, rallying to abolish Russia’s “repressive, sexist, and homoephobic laws.” Earlier that year, Russian women had rallied in the streets of Moscow and St. Petersburg to support other women who had fallen victims to police violence and prosecution. It’s clear that Russia’s modern day women’s movement is, above all, a chance to form a sense of solidarity and comradery between women.
In the end, though, there is a startling contrast between how the West celebrates International Women’s Day and how it is celebrated in the banner-holder for the former Soviet Republics. Russia’s desire to push against Western values and promote an image of “masclune strength” has radically changed the holiday’s messaging. As the West continues to embrace the themes of gender equality and women’s rights, the more Russia will continue down the path of traditional gender roles.
As 2021 saw great strides in Women’s protests and political participation, 2022 might see a reversal. Putin’s invasion of Ukraine and much of the world’s quick response to cut ties with the country, have left many Russians in the hands of a repressive regime. One in which is seeking to slowly diminish any dissenting opinions. As International Women’s Day comes around, it is clear that many Russians will continue to celebrate the holiday as they have done so for years. Doing so, at the cost of women everywhere. And those that wish for it to be something more, beyond flowers and chocolates, maybe risking their lives for the simple belief in equal rights for men and women.
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How Russia Went From Pioneer to Laggard in Gender Equality
Photo by Giacomo Ferroni via Unsplash.
March 8, 2022
Diplomatic Courier's Jordan Anderson surveys the surprising history of International Women's Day - as well as how perceptions of the day and how it is celebrated have shifted over the years so that one of IWD's biggest early boosters is now a gender rights laggard.
E
very year on March 8th, people everywhere celebrate International Women’s Day (IWD). The occasion is observed by countries across the world, universally celebrating women’s achievements in society. Yet the meaning of “achievement” varies from country to county, and the origins of the holiday are even more fascinating.
The Fascinating Origins of IWD
International Women’s Day has radical roots in the socialist movements of the early 20th century. Women’s rights activism proliferated in the early 1900s, and women’s march in 1908 for better working conditions spurred the Socialist Party of America to declare February 28th; the first National Women’s Day in America. Two years later, the International Conference of Working Women unanimously approved a proposal for an annual International Women’s Day. The inception of the holiday was motivated in part by a desire for better pay and shorter hours in the factories and under the smoke stacks, firmly rooting the history of the celebration in America’s early socialist organizations.
Soon enough, International Women’s Day took on a revolutionary tone at the forefront of the Russian Revolution. Russia adopted the holiday in 1913 and on the very day four years later, women gathered in the streets to protest the resulting mass deaths and food shortages of the first World War. The protests sparked a wave of workers’ strikes across the country in the subsequent weeks. By the end of the year, women had gained the right to vote across the nation — making Russia the first country where women had this right.
Currently, 27 countries across the world have recognized IWD as a national holiday. Most of these are former republics of the Soviet Union, reflecting the socialist origins of the holiday. The holiday is widely celebrated in these countries, which until recently was not the case in the West. Although the idea for IWD originated in the United States, the day was not as well known as it was, and continues to be, in the former Soviet Union. This is likely because of IWD’s association with the USSR during the Cold War, inhibiting any real recognition of the holiday for the years to come. It was only in 1975, when the United Nations declared an International Women’s Day on March 8th, that the holiday gained more popular traction in the West and elsewhere.
Differing Takes on IWD Today
Today, the holiday is a celebration of women’s rights and the obstacles they’ve overcome, as well as a reminder of what they still face. The U.S. Department of State issued a statement last year recognized IWD, reaffirming America’s “commitment to women’s empowerment and gender equality at home and around the globe.” In the late 1980s, Congress declared the entire month of March as “Women’s History Month.” Each year since, the president has recognized women who have made significant achievements throughout American history in social, political, and academic fields.
Each year the United Nations announces a theme for the holiday. Their chosen theme for 2022 is “Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow.” With the statement, the message is clear: women have a critical role to play in combating climate change. Additionally, a social media campaign to push for gender equality is trending with the hashtag #BreakTheBias in the days leading up to IWD. By Western standards, International Women’s Day is a time to promote a world free of bias and gender discrimination. However, the meaning of the day still varies regionally.
In Russia today, International Women’s Day is similar to Mother’s Day or Valentine’s Day. Citizens celebrate women’s role in society, usually from more of a traditional point of view. As the years have passed, the holiday has lost much of its original political messaging in former Soviet states, becoming much more of a “card and flowers” day than one for protest and demands for equality. In 2019, President Vladimir Putin appeared on the state TV to wish his, “best greetings on International Women's Day,” and stated that, “this spring day is always full of flowers and gifts, lit up with the joy of our women and your shining smiles." In the address, Putin also celebrated women’s roles as mothers, with their ability to work and take care of their families. While IWD is clearly still recognized as an important day even by the Russian state, its meaning has clearly changed, being now more focused on celebrating traditional views on the roles of women in Russian society.
Many view Russia’s turn toward traditional values as a rejection of progressive Western values. Feminism is seen as a taboo subject among Russian citizens, where as it’s common place in Western vocabulary. Furthermore, Russia faces real issues around gender inequality — something which remains ignored by their National Women’s Day celebrations. In 2017, President Vladmir Putin abated the penalties for domestic violence disputes by decriminalizing cases where the victim was not seriously harmed. A move which angered many women’s rights activists and human rights organizations. As of 2021, only 15.8% of seats in the Russian parliament were held by women. Though, despite the gender bias in the Kremlin, Russia is not completely free of an ongoing women’s rights movement.
In 2021, the SotsFem Alternative socialist feminist group and the Scoiatlist Alternative held a mass protest for equal rights in the days leading up the International Women’s Day. The strike was primarily university students, rallying to abolish Russia’s “repressive, sexist, and homoephobic laws.” Earlier that year, Russian women had rallied in the streets of Moscow and St. Petersburg to support other women who had fallen victims to police violence and prosecution. It’s clear that Russia’s modern day women’s movement is, above all, a chance to form a sense of solidarity and comradery between women.
In the end, though, there is a startling contrast between how the West celebrates International Women’s Day and how it is celebrated in the banner-holder for the former Soviet Republics. Russia’s desire to push against Western values and promote an image of “masclune strength” has radically changed the holiday’s messaging. As the West continues to embrace the themes of gender equality and women’s rights, the more Russia will continue down the path of traditional gender roles.
As 2021 saw great strides in Women’s protests and political participation, 2022 might see a reversal. Putin’s invasion of Ukraine and much of the world’s quick response to cut ties with the country, have left many Russians in the hands of a repressive regime. One in which is seeking to slowly diminish any dissenting opinions. As International Women’s Day comes around, it is clear that many Russians will continue to celebrate the holiday as they have done so for years. Doing so, at the cost of women everywhere. And those that wish for it to be something more, beyond flowers and chocolates, maybe risking their lives for the simple belief in equal rights for men and women.
