A LITTLE OF HISTORY…
This day has its origins in the history of feminist struggles on the European and American continents. On 28 February 1909, a national women's day was celebrated in the United States at the call of the Socialist Party of America, and then traditionally every last Sunday in February.
A year later in Europe, Clara ZETKIN, a German feminist socialist activist, put forward this idea at the International Conference of Socialist Women in Copenhagen.
In 1911, several countries such as Denmark, Austria, Switzerland and Germany launched an international women's day. For the first time on 19 March 1911, women took to the streets in large numbers. The aim was to obtain civil rights such as the right to vote and the right to access education and work.
HOW DOES 8 MARCH COME ABOUT?
In 1914, a few months after the outbreak of the First World War, women from the German Socialist Party met in Berlin for the 8th of March. Afterwards, the fighting prevented any gatherings. The next one took place on 8 March 1917 in Russia. Lenin made it a day dedicated to women. After the Second World War, the celebration was extended to the whole of the USSR.
IN FRANCE...
In France, in the 1970s, feminists imposed 8 March as a day of struggle for women's rights, particularly under the impetus of the Women's Liberation Movement. Demands changed: In Western countries, the right to vote had been acquired (1944). Women demanded the right to control their own bodies with the right to abortion. These demands led to the decriminalisation of abortion in France with the Loi Veil on 17 January 1975.
It was finally in 1977 that the United Nations made Women's Day official, inviting all the countries of the world to celebrate a day in favour of women's rights. It thus joined the official list of 87 international days recognised or introduced by the United Nations.
In France, the date of 8 March was officially set in 1982.
THE CURRENT ISSUES OF THE DAY
Women's rights, justice and gender equality are not yet achieved and, above all, are not the same everywhere. It is therefore an essential day to make these demands heard, as geopolitical upheavals, the climate and health crises and poverty are omnipresent obstacles.
Some figures from the ONU:
- 70% of the world's poor are women.
- Women do 66% of the world's work but receive only 10% of the income.
From a marketing point of view, this day has become an opportunity to make promotions in shops, to offer women flowers or chocolates for example. These actions are sometimes criticised as they tend to summarise Women's Day as if there was only one day in the year.
WOMEN'S DAY AT CRISTAL SPA
At the Cristal Spa, we take care of women 365 days a year by offering tailor-made treatments and massages.
To celebrate women, the Cristal Spa at the Impérial Palace**** will offer a peach coloured eternal rose in a small hatbox, to every client with a treatment appointment on 8 March 2023.
Have a great day! 😉