Gab’s thoughts
I dislike the equation of the 8th of March with International Women’s Rights Day. Reducing the fight against an oppressive patriarchal system to just women places it within the very binary system that patriarchy has imposed on us. Equating that day solely with women is, therefore, inherently patriarchal, as it reinforces a false binary.
Instead, International Feminist Day of Struggle seems much more fitting. I see more than just women standing up for feminism, and I reject this outdated exclusion. Hopefully, one day, we will no longer reduce our experiences to a binary and we will all take on the crucial task of dismantling oppressive structures like the patriarchy.
Clara’s thoughts
I grew up in France, with “Journée de LA FÂME”. But when I started reading feminist literature, I learned it actually was “Journée internationale de lutte pour les droits des femmes”. I even discovered its working-class, Marxist roots, and shared an article about it on my facebook wall. Then, while living in Latin America, I kept hearing of “Día de la Mujer” all over again.
But in Spain, it was completely different: “8M” (“ocho eme”), for March 8th. Reflecting all its political complexities, this abbreviation conveys the plurality of struggles and the diversity of realities that are both celebrated and denounced on that day. To strike, to speak up, to show up for each other, that is what 8M means to me. So don’t you ever dare give me flowers on that day !
Jacquie’s thoughts
I don‘t have any memories of celebrating International Working Women’s Day growing up – in fact, I had internalized misogyny and identified as an “egalitarian” when first presented with the aggressive white feminism of YouTube SJW compilations. The oppression of the second sex became clearer to me as I went through puberty, and I found my way back to feminism through queerness and decolonial theory.
This 8M, I call upon Luxembourgish feminists to rededicate themselves to the struggle and fight for our working poor, immigrants and mothers and caregivers of all marginalised genders at home, and those hurt by Luxembourgish foreign policy abroad, like the FLINTA** people of Goma and Gaza.
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*The acronym FLINTA stands for: female, lesbian, inter, non-binary, trans and agender people. The * highlights all gender and non-gender.
Boso’s thoughts
International Women's Day (IWD) is a real double-edged sword for me. I love that we have a day to celebrate women, whose work and lives have always been undervalued (especially when we talk about working-class women and women of colour). However, all too often I see celebrations of IWD equating being a woman with having a vulva, boobs or being a mother. This does all women dirty, both cis and trans*.
A 'female' body does not determine womanhood. Is a cis woman less of a woman because she has had a mastectomy? Is a cis woman less of a woman because she doesn't have children? Is a cis woman 'defective' because she has fertility issues?
It is, of course, important to recognise that ‘women’s issues’ such as female reproductive health, abortion rights and pregnancy have been, and continue to be, marginalised precisely because of their association with women. However, when we fight for justice on these issues, we must fight for justice for everyone. Equating women to one particular kind of experience not only excludes many trans women, but also excludes many cis women (as illustrated above). Conversely, many trans men and non-binary people must also be included in conversations around reproductive health, pregnancy and gender-based discrimination.
To clarify, there is absolutely nothing wrong with using IWD to celebrate a woman for being a mother, to fight for reproductive health or to talk about female sexual health. However, we need to steer clear of cis-normative language (in this case equating being a woman with having a specific kind of body and experience). We should fight for the rights of every marginalised gender always - not just on March 8th, but also every other day.
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*’cisgender’ or ‘cis’ describes someone who is the same gender that they were assigned at birth, e.g. a ‘cis woman’ is a woman who was assigned female at birth. ‘Transgender’ or ‘trans’ describes someone who is a different gender than the one they were assigned at birth.
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