DAY WITHOUT A WOMAN
"A Day Without a Woman" was a significant strike action that took
place on March 8, 2017, in observance of International Women's Day. The strike
was a response to the policies of the newly elected administration of President
Donald Trump, and it was organized by two distinct groups—the 2017 Women's
March and the International Women's Strike movement. The planning for this
event commenced prior to Trump's November 2016 election, reflecting the
concerns and apprehensions of those who opposed his policies.
The movement gained momentum and support when it was embraced and promoted
by the Women's March, a prominent organization advocating for women's rights.
The inspiration for the strike's actions drew from previous impactful
movements, such as the "Bodega Strike" and the Day Without
Immigrants, which had successfully demonstrated the power of collective action.
In the United States, the organizers of the strike urged women to actively
participate by refraining from engaging in work for the day. Additionally, women
were encouraged to abstain from making any purchases, or alternatively, to
choose to shop exclusively at "small, women- and minority-owned
businesses." This dual approach aimed not only to emphasize the economic
contributions of women but also to highlight the importance of supporting
businesses owned by marginalized groups.
The symbolic gesture of wearing red on that day served as a visual
representation of solidarity among participants. The color red was chosen for
its historical association with labor movements and its ability to convey a
united front in the face of common challenges. By wearing red, participants
aimed to send a powerful and collective message against policies they perceived
as detrimental to women's rights.
Overall, "A Day Without a Woman" was a coordinated effort to
showcase the significance of women in various aspects of life, from the
workplace to economic activities, and to emphasize the importance of gender
equality. The strike intended to raise awareness about the impact of policies
on women's lives and underscore the necessity for social and political changes
that would ensure equal rights and opportunities for all.
PLATFORM
The organization of the strike involved international coalitions of
activists, and in the United States, the platform was characterized by a set of
articulated demands. The American strike platform encompassed a broad spectrum
of issues and goals that reflected the diverse concerns of the organizers.
The key demands outlined in the U.S.-based platform included a call for
"open borders," emphasizing the importance of freedom from
"immigration raids." This reflected a commitment to addressing
immigration policies and advocating for a more inclusive and compassionate
approach to migrants.
Additionally, the platform expressed support for the "decolonization
of Palestine" as one of the ancillary goals tied to the overarching
objective of the "emancipation of women." This reflects the
organizers' recognition of global issues and the interconnectedness of
struggles for justice and equality.
The group of eight well-known activists who initiated the call for the
March 8, 2017 strike in the United States explicitly characterized their
movement as "anti-capitalist," rejecting the economic system that
they perceived as contributing to inequality. The platform also identified
itself as "anti-racist, anti-imperialist, anti-heterosexist,"
reflecting a commitment to combating various forms of discrimination and
oppression.
Furthermore, the platform was declared as "anti-neoliberal,"
opposing the economic philosophy that emphasizes limited government
intervention and promotes free-market capitalism. The organizers articulated
their opposition to what they saw as the harmful impacts of neoliberal policies
on marginalized communities.
The comprehensive nature of the platform extended to a rejection of
different forms of violence. This included opposition to "the violence of
the market, of debt, of capitalist property relations, and of the state."
The platform also addressed specific forms of violence against women, including
"the violence of discriminatory policies against lesbian, trans, and queer
women" and "the violence of state criminalization of migratory
movements."
In summary, the U.S.-based platform of the strike was characterized by a
wide-ranging set of demands, reflecting a commitment to social, economic, and
political justice. The organizers aimed to address issues on both a domestic
and global scale, connecting the emancipation of women to broader struggles
against capitalism, imperialism, racism, and discrimination in various forms.
PLANNING
The planning of the international strike, known as
"A Day Without a Woman," was a coordinated effort that originated in
Poland in October 2016, well before the United States presidential election
that brought Donald Trump to power in November of the same year. The worldwide
nature of the strike demonstrated a global response to political concerns, with
organizers seeking to make a collective impact on International Women's Day,
which fell on March 8, 2017.
In the United States, the call for the strike was
initiated by eight political activists, including Linda Martín Alcoff, Cinzia
Arruzza, Tithi Bhattacharya, Nancy Fraser, Barbara Ransby, Rasmea Odeh,
Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor, and Angela Davis. They officially called for the
strike on February 6, 2017. Subsequently, the organizers of the 2017 Women's
March, a significant movement against the Trump administration, endorsed the
idea of a general strike without specifying a specific date on the same day.
However, on February 14, the organizers of the Women's March officially
endorsed the March 8 strike, prompting questions about leadership and the
specific goals and scope of the protest.
Notably, the call for a strike gained support from
various quarters, and other groups also voiced their support for general
strikes. The International Women's Strike played a pivotal role, encouraging
women worldwide to participate in a strike on the same day as the Women's March
strike, fostering a sense of global solidarity.
The Women's March organizers, which included influential
political activists like Angela Davis and Linda Sarsour, encouraged women to
take various actions in solidarity with the strike. They drew inspiration from
the "Bodega Strike" and the Day Without Immigrants, urging
participants to refrain from shopping, except at small businesses and those
owned by women and minorities. Wearing red was proposed as a symbolic gesture
of solidarity, as red has traditionally been associated with labor movements
globally.
The organizers explicitly asked women not to work on
March 8, 2017, in both paid and unpaid capacities. Men were invited to show
support by taking on housework and childcare duties for the day. A week after
the initial announcement, the organizers officially declared March 8, 2017, as
the date for the strike, aligning it with International Women's Day.
Several companies, including Uber, Microsoft, MTV News,
Teen Vogue, Bustle, Jezebel, Fusion, the Cut, The A.V. Club, and Twitter,
supported the strike by allowing women employees to take the day off. Uber, in
particular, communicated to its employees that they were free to participate in
the protest, demonstrating a recognition and support for the significance of
the strike. The involvement of these major companies further underscored the
broader impact and attention the strike garnered.
STRIKE ACTIONS
The International Women's Day strike of 2017, organized
as part of the broader International Women's Strike, saw participation in over
50 countries and 400 cities worldwide. Notably, tens of thousands of women in
Poland demonstrated for women's rights, illustrating the global reach and
impact of the strike.
In the United States, various cities witnessed
substantial demonstrations. Around 1,000 demonstrators gathered outside Trump
Tower in New York City. Notably, four primary organizers of the march—Tamika
Mallory, Linda Sarsour, Carmen Perez, and Bob Bland—were arrested for
obstructing traffic outside the Trump International Hotel and Tower in Columbus
Circle. Los Angeles hosted a large demonstration at Grand Park, while in San Francisco,
a rally at City Hall drew over a thousand people.
In Washington, D.C., House Democratic representatives
expressed solidarity by walking out of the Capitol. Concurrently, an event
named "Women Workers Rising" took place in front of the U.S. Department
of Labor. Late-night entertainment shows in the United States, including Full
Frontal with Samantha Bee, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Kimmel
Live!, and the Late Late Show with James Corden, featured skits and guests
celebrating the strike, underscoring its cultural impact.
The strike had notable effects on some school districts
in the United States, with several closing due to the number of teachers
requesting the day off. School closures were reported in Alexandria, Virginia,
and in Prince George's County Public Schools in Maryland, as well as Chapel
Hill-Carrboro City Schools in North Carolina and Center City Public Charter
Schools in Washington, D.C.
Beyond schools, the municipal court in Providence, Rhode
Island, was closed due to the significant participation of women in the strike,
further indicating the widespread impact of the movement.
However, the strike was not without its critics. Some
voiced concerns about a perceived sense of white privilege associated with the
strike. Critics argued that the ability to participate in the strike might be
limited to women in good economic situations, primarily comprising white women,
while women of color, who often make up a significant portion of minimum-wage
jobs, might not have the freedom to take time off work without fearing job
loss.
In response to this criticism, strike organizers
highlighted historical examples of strikes led by individuals who were not
considered privileged. Linda Sarsour, one of the organizers, pointed out the
women who participated in the Montgomery bus boycott and farmworkers demanding
workers' protections, challenging the notion that those engaging in strikes
were inherently privileged.
Interestingly, in video gaming circles, the debate
shifted towards journalist Colin Moriarty, who left Kinda Funny over a poorly
received joke about the protest. This aspect showcases how discussions
surrounding the strike extended beyond its immediate social and political
implications, infiltrating various cultural spheres.
CONCLUSION
In
conclusion, "A Day Without a Woman" in 2017 was a significant strike
action organized on March 8th, International Women's Day. It was a response to
the policies of the newly elected administration of President Donald Trump and
was organized by the 2017 Women's March and the International Women's Strike
movement. The planning for the event began before Trump's election, reflecting
concerns and apprehensions about his policies.
The movement gained momentum and support when endorsed by the Women's March, and it drew inspiration from impactful movements like the "Bodega Strike" and the Day Without Immigrants. The U.S.-based platform of the strike had a wide-ranging set of demands, reflecting a commitment to social, economic, and political justice.
The planning of the international strike originated in Poland, and in the U.S., it was initiated by eight political activists. The strike called for actions such as refraining from work, not making purchases (or supporting small, women- and minority-owned businesses), and wearing red as a symbol of solidarity. Companies like Uber, Microsoft, and others supported the strike by allowing women employees to take the day off.
On the day of the strike, it saw participation in over 50 countries and 400 cities worldwide. Demonstrations were held in various U.S. cities, with arrests of prominent organizers in New York City. The strike had effects on school districts, leading to closures in some areas. However, it faced criticism for perceived white privilege, with organizers pointing to historical examples to counter these claims.
The strike's impact extended beyond social and political spheres, reaching cultural domains like late-night entertainment and video gaming discussions. Overall, "A Day Without a Woman" aimed to emphasize the significance of women's contributions, advocate for gender equality, and address broader issues of social and economic justice.
REFERENCE
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