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More than 145 years ago on 8 March
1857 women textile workers in New York City took to the streets to protest against the appalling work conditions, long working hours and low wages. This peacefully started demonstration was brutally attacked by police and resulted in many being killed and many more injured and arrested. Little they knew that their brave action would leave its marks on the history of struggle for women’s and workers rights. They are remembered and their struggle valued each year by those who celebrate international women’s day, because it was in the commemoration of their struggle that 8 March was named the internationalwomen’s day.Inspired by American socialists who
celebrated the last Sunday of each February as women’s day, Clara Zetkin, a very well-known German socialist in 1909 suggested an international day to celebrate and fight for women’s rights.This suggestion was approved and welcomed
by the socialist International which was held in Copenhagen thatyear. The International Women’s day (8 March) has since been celebrated by women and men in many countries across the world and has become an opportunity to fight for a better life. It has been the connecting link that brings people together over the shared concerns of inequality and injustice in the world.The international women’s day has become
the story of ordinary women who are determined to take part in making history and creating better conditions for themselves and the future generations. In some countries 8 March is a national holiday, it is celebrated and women get flowers and presents. Meetings are held to discuss women’s issues and their demands are put forward. In others IWD is marked as a political event and engaging in it will result in conflicts and confrontations. In Iran for instance, the government has been trying to stop people celebrating IWD. It even has changed the women’s day to promote Islamic values among women. But being forbidden has never stopped people from taking to streets year after year and protesting against the Islamic laws and the official rightlessness of women.Throughout the history there had been
many remarkable events associated with this day at which women have stepped out of their traditional roles and marked political affairs of their times. In 1913’s and 1914’s international women’s days, women in many European countries took to streets in masses to protest against the oncoming World War 1. 1917 Alexandra Kolontai and other women’s rights activists organised a massive demonstration of Russian women who demanded peace and bread. The 60s witnessed mass women movement for vote in Europe and America and later for equal rights and sexual revolution.Among many historical IWDs is Iranian
women’s massive protest against compulsory Islamic veil and Islamic laws in 1979. On 8 March that year, Iranian women came out in their thousands to protest against Khomaini’s Fatwa to make the Islamic veil compulsory. Thiswas the first major demonstration against the Islamic government in Iran and the basis for a growing women’s movement and resistance.Although for the past two decades due
to coming to power of conservative right wing politicians such as Thatcher and Regan, direct women’s issues have been pushed back and IWD has not been as widely celebrated and appreciated in Europe and America, the spirit of international women’s day is aflame and soaring in countries like Iran due to a state gender apartheid and women’s need to fight for their basic rights. For the past 25 years women and freedom lovers in Iran have opposed this unequal and inhumane system on a daily basis. On international women’s days, under the noses of Iranian authorities, women take off their scarves and burn it or throw it away in a symbolic way of protest, they hold meetings and talks about equalityand freedom, they play music and dance in the streets despite the rules and they show their devotion towards the struggle to emancipate women.As witnesses of 25 years of Islamic state
and the most reactionary Islamic laws, Iranian women have become the front runners of the international women’s movement for secularism and equality. They have clearly linked 8 March to the Marxist movement once again and to the real issues of women and society as it was at the beginning of twentieth century and seem to be at the heart of the next upcoming revolution in Iran.