Did You Know There Are Two Women’s Strikes? Here’s What You Need To Know

After a long pause post Women’s March, lingering on the question of what’s next?, leaders of the million + protest have announced on March 8th, women will go on strike. The date also coincides with International Women’s Day, and will be the organization’s next big call to action.

The strike is called, “A Day Without A Woman,” however, the organizers of the Women’s March have yet to release details of what this strike entails, or the logistics of the event. Either way,  it is certainly gaining traction.

Feminists and activists call for worldwide women’s strike on March 8: https://t.co/bZfMf45Ry0 pic.twitter.com/cPypjIsy8v

— Women in the World (@WomenintheWorld) February 7, 2017

Great points made here. Iceland once had a women’s strike that shut down the entire country. It CAN be done, but it takes a LOT of work. https://t.co/SxBQuwgChk

— Jennifer Oog (@JenniferOog) February 9, 2017

The Instagram post made by the organization strongly hints  that the strike will be focusing on challenging the ethics of businesses.

A quote from the Instagram post states, “We ask: do businesses support our communities, or do they drain our communities? Do they strive for gender equity or do they support the policies and leaders that perpetuate oppression? Do they align with a sustainable environment or do they profit off destruction and steal the futures of our children?”

In the spirit of women and their allies coming together for love and liberation, we offer A Day Without A Woman. We ask: do businesses support our communities, or do they drain our communities? Do they strive for gender equity or do they support the policies and leaders that perpetuate oppression? Do they align with a sustainable environment or do they profit off destruction and steal the futures of our children? We saw what happened when millions of us stood together in January, and now we know that our army of love greatly outnumbers the army of fear, greed and hatred. On March 8th, International Women’s Day, let’s unite again in our communities for A Day Without A Woman. Over the next few weeks we will be sharing more information on what actions on that day can look like for you. In the meantime, we are proud to support Strike4Democracy’s #F17 National Day of Action to Push Back Against Assaults on Democratic Principles. This Friday, February 17th, gather your friends, families, neighbors, and start brainstorming ideas for how you can enhance your community, stand up to this administration, integrate resistance and self-care into your daily routine, and how you will channel your efforts for good on March 8th. Remember: this is a marathon, not a sprint. #DayWithoutAWoman #WomensMarch

A post shared by Women’s March (@womensmarch) on Feb 14, 2017 at 11:15am PST

Interestingly, before this announcement was made, a group of prominent feminists including Angela Davis, also announced that on March 8th, they would be organizing an international women’s strike.

Unlike the Women’s March organization who is yet to release their vision statement, this group has  a pointed purpose:  protest against male violence and in defense of reproductive rights.

Further detail reveals the group’s position is a more pointed anti-capitalistic platform, set to empower the 99% who “do not have access to individual self-promotion and advancement, and whose conditions of life can be improved only through policies that defend social reproduction, secure reproductive justice and guarantee labor rights.”

As outlined in an op-ed in The Guardian, the group details how women’s fundamental rights have deteriorated drastically over the past 30 years, in large part to ‘financialization’ and global corporate institutionalism.

This strike will be held in conjunction with 30 other feminist organizations around the world. Beyond striking, the day will consist of marching, blocking roads, abstaining from domestic care and sex work, boycotting, calling out misogynistic politicians and companies, and striking in educational institutions.

The legislative successes of women-led strikes around the world have historically ignited mixed reactions. However, Iceland a strike known as, ‘The Long Friday’ was made up by men who were forced to take on women’s household, childcare, and work responsibilities for one day, did create legislative changes  for the betterment of working women within the country. 

Though it remains unclear whether or not the Davis camp and their 30 partners will join the Women’s March leaders, one thing is for certain – March 8th will be the next day America, and the world, reckons with women and their place within it.