Alejandra Luna, Graduate in Low with a specialization in Labor Low
8M refers to March 8, International Women’s Day. According to the UN, this date is an important milestone that highlights the achievements of the feminist movement and women in general.
It is a time to recognize feminist movements and organizations, as well as women who have been key in the journey towards gender equality. Despite the challenges, they have made significant advances that deserve to be celebrated, but we must also remember that there is still much to be done.
The history behind March 8, International Women’s Day
On March 8, 1908, a tragic fire at the Cotton factory in New York City, United States, claimed the lives of 129 women who were on strike demanding a reduction in working hours, fair wages, and better working conditions. This tragedy marked a turning point in the fight for women’s rights in the workplace.
In 1910, during the Second International Conference of Socialist Women in Copenhagen, it was decided to officially proclaim March 8 as International Women’s Day, in honor of the women who lost their lives in the Cotton factory fire. The central theme of the conference was the fight for free and effective suffrage for all women.
Since then, March 8 has become a symbolic date for the feminist movement and the struggle for gender equality worldwide.
On this March 8, International Women’s Day, it is common for many people to wonder whether to congratulate women. In reality, it is not a day to celebrate, but to commemorate and recognize women’s fight for equality and their rights; as well as to highlight one of the main objectives of the feminist movement: to stop male violence and demand justice for femicides.
It is important to remember that International Women’s Day is not a celebration that deserves congratulations or gifts, but a commemoration that seeks to empower women’s voices in those areas where their value and importance are still not recognized.