In recent years, 8 March has become one of the most controversial dates. Opinions differ on the true meaning of this day, its festive nature and whether it is worth celebrating women at all. This holiday is often associated with spring, femininity, and flowers. However, its history and original meaning are much deeper. On the eve of the International Women’s Day, the NGO ‘Girls’ spoke about the history of this holiday, gender equality, stereotypes and pink marketing.
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About gender stereotypes
‘You’ve probably heard phrases like: ‘women are more emotional and men are more rational’, “real men don’t cry”, “you’re a girl, be polite”. ‘These are gender stereotypes,’ says Anna Povkh, communications manager at the NGO Girls. ’They are established ideas about the roles of men and women that impose restrictions on a person’s behaviour and expectations of them based on their gender. While such statements may seem innocent, they form a framework that limits people’s self-expression and can lead to discrimination and inequality in the long run.’
Gender stereotypes are shaped by historical, cultural and societal factors. For example, they differ in Ukraine from those in Japan or African countries. Stereotypes simplify thinking, and this is natural for the human brain, as it helps it process information faster. However, this simplification is often harmful because it does not take into account the individual characteristics of people.
‘Boys are strong, girls are beautiful’
‘From school onwards, the sphere of activity of boys and girls is shaped by gender ideas. Technical specialities and exact sciences are traditionally considered ‘male’, while humanities are considered ‘female’. They say that ‘boys are strong and smart, and girls are beautiful and kind’. Also, care work – household chores, raising children, caring for the elderly – is traditionally assigned to women, which leads to the so-called ‘second shift’: after the main job, women often also perform household duties.’
‘Did you know that until 2017, there was a list of more than 450 professions prohibited for women in Ukraine. It looked like ‘care’, but in fact it was discrimination, as it artificially limited women’s career choices. Some of these professions are indeed dangerous, not only for women but for people in general. However, among the prohibited professions were those that did not require physical strength – for example, women were not allowed to drive buses, although they could drive trams and trolleybuses,’ Anna notes.
A similar situation was observed in the military. Until 2016, women could not officially hold combat positions involving higher risk and responsibility, such as snipers, artillerymen, and scouts. Unofficially, women could perform these duties. However, they did not receive adequate social protection, equal pay or assistance in case of injury. Thanks to the Invisible Battalion initiative, this injustice began to change, and in 2018, women were granted access to all military specialities. Currently, more than 60,000 women serve in the Ukrainian army, of whom more than 5,000 are in the combat zone.
Lost meaning
Every year, on the eve of 8 March, the advertising becomes floral and pink, shops offer discounts and encourage people to buy gifts for women. For example, flowers, clothes, cosmetics, household appliances or kitchenware. However, these campaigns are often based on stereotypes and do not reflect the true history of this day.
‘March 8 is associated with the struggle of women for their rights,’ Anna emphasises. ’On 28 February 1908, more than 15,000 American women protested to demand equal pay, shorter working hours and the right to vote. In 1910, the German socialist Clara Zetkin proposed to establish the International Women’s Day. It was intended to draw attention to women’s issues and inequality.’
With the advent of Soviet rule in Ukraine, 8 March took on a new meaning. Initially, it was celebrated as a day of struggle for women’s rights, but later it turned into a ‘holiday of spring, femininity and beauty’. This was part of Soviet policy: the authorities ‘allowed’ women to work on an equal footing with men, but did not release them from their domestic duties. It was in Soviet times that women got the so-called ‘second shift’. Thus, the fight for equality was reduced to a formality.
So is it a struggle or a holiday?
With the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, discussions around 8 March have intensified due to the Soviet trace of this holiday. There was even a proposal to replace it with Ukrainian Women’s Day on 25 February, the birthday of Lesya Ukrainka, who was not only a writer but also an active feminist. However, this initiative did not find sufficient support.
The NGO ‘Girls’ emphasises that the real significance of 8 March is the day of women’s rights and a reminder of gender equality. Therefore, the question of whether it is appropriate to congratulate women on their ‘femininity’ and ‘beauty’ remains open. For many women, this day is an opportunity to be heard, to feel that their activities and contribution to society matter. Therefore, the best congratulations are support, recognition of the importance of their work and struggles, and understanding of the true meaning of this day.
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