Women’s fight for equality is not over

Dear girls, today is your holiday!

It celebrates women’s economic, political, and social equality.

Women have been workers since the beginning of industrialization, when they were poorly paid and worked in inhumane conditions.

At a rally in New York on February 28^th, 1909, women demanded higher pay.

This was the beginning of their fight for the right to vote.

The first celebration took place the very next year. At that time, March 19^th was still considered a holiday for all women.

There have been many exceptional women in Slovenia as well – women who were not appreciated enough and whom we still know too little about.

In some places around the world, women are still fighting for the right to vote among other rights.

In Slovenia, women’s inequality is most evident in the economy.

“We find very few of them in leading positions,” warns Mateja Malnar Štembal from the association Ona ve.

In business, they rarely break through the glass ceiling to reach the top. Motherhood very often stops them.

Mateja Malnar Štembal

Women’s rights, such as the right to abortion and contraception, are under attack in many parts of the world. In France the right to abortion was even written into the constitution.

Maybe it’s not always the easiest to be a woman, but it’s beautiful – especially today.

So celebrate with everyone close to you!

Glossary

Industrialization is the introduction and spread of industrial activity in a certain area.

Glass ceilings are invisible barriers that prevent access to the highest positions in society.

Points to Consider

1. How do you celebrate March 8^th?
2. Why should women have the same rights as men?
3. Which other holiday(s) celebrates women?

***

The original version of this article was published on 8^th March.