News / International Women's Day
International Women’s Day event champions solidarity, empowerment and intersectionality
On Sunday, 8 March – International Women’s Day – women across the world are striking against sexual harassment, extortionate childcare, unjust working conditions and a range of other feminist issues.
The event will be brought closer to home by 13 Bristol-based feminist organisations, all of whom have collaborated to host the Bristol International Women’s Strike: an event of solidarity, empowerment and intersectionality.
https://www.facebook.com/womenstrike.uk/videos/vb.1589386114454472/559772531300041/?type=2&theater
is needed now More than ever
With the organisations ranging from Easton Cowgirls Women’s Football Club, who pride themselves on their anti-homophobic, anti-racist and anti-fascist ethos, to Asamblea Chilena en Bristol, who aim to create a welcoming community for Chilean immigrants in Bristol, the Bristol International Women’s Strike 2020 will thrive on diversity and inclusivity.
“It’s an anti-fascist demo and all the organisers are equal,” says Pamela, one of the event organisers. “The strike sees an international network come together as one. It’s not us or them. We’re together as one.”
All women are invited – whether non-binary, transgender, a sex worker or a migrant – the event is for feminists everywhere. The day aims to highlight the significance of paid and unpaid women’s work around the globe and to make manifest the ways in which the world would fall apart without it.
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The Bristol International Women’s Strike has a clear agenda: make people to listen to women.
In spite of the hard-hitting political messages and gravity of many of the issues this day strives to address, the organisers highlight that International Women’s Day is also a celebration of the progress that has been made over the past decades in the struggles against patriarchy.
In light of this, the Bristol International Women’s Strike has ensured a lively affair: there will be music, free food, punk aerobics and kids’ football, in addition to the more serious speeches on feminist education and an English performance of the poignant and harrowing Chilean production A Rapist In Your Path.
Pamela, who moved to Bristol in 2016, highlights the importance of having a creche at the event, saying: “Mums can strike while children can stay and play and do feminist activities.”
“We didn’t expect so many people to come last year,” says Susy, another event organiser who moved to Bristol in 1997. “So this year, we have big A3 posters which will help people understand what the strike is. We don’t want to just be preaching to the choir, we want do spread the understanding of what feminism actually is and spread the word of equal rights.”
https://www.facebook.com/womenstrike.uk/videos/vb.1589386114454472/666713344069927/?type=2&theater
“It’s part rage, part celebration and fun,” says Pamela. “We’re using our privilege to raise awareness of less privileged women.
“It’s a global movement and it’s getting bigger; it’s so important and necessary.”
The Bristol International Women’s Strike takes place at the cenotaph in the city centre on Sunday, 8 March from midday-6pm and all genders are welcome. The event will be made accessible for those with physical impairments and designated reduced mobility spaces will be available throughout the day.
Main photo by Guy Smallman / Women’s Strike Assembly
Read more: 22 events happening in Bristol for International Women’s Day
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