“It is a vital necessity”: they are on feminist strike and they explain to us why

“I feel the immense need to amplify women’s voices”

For the first time, this March 8th, there will be a strike. I feel an immense need to amplify the voices of women and gender minorities and to demand concrete changes in terms of equality. We saw it on Monday with the constitutionalization of abortion: mobilizing, showing solidarity pays off, even in our patriarchal society! It gives us a lot of hope, we feel less alone in our struggle.

I am always touched by see feminist activists forget their disagreements for a day advance claims together. I can’t wait to join them. Because even though we’ve made progress this week, the fight is far from over. Just look at how many feminicides have been committed since the beginning of the year… Not to mention the silence that reigns sexual and gender violencethe persistent wage differences, the poor consideration given to women, especially when they are racialized, precarious, single parents, disabled, etc.

I suspect that going on strike tomorrow won’t change much: Darmanin will still be in government tomorrow evening (unless there’s good news!), the actors will no longer explicitly support Judith Godrèche, the bosses will no longer hire women and the latter will undoubtedly have to still take care of most of the housework… But I believe in the awareness-raising and mobilizing power of the strike. Participating in the Feminist Strike means demonstrating our determination not to give up, and show our adelphia despite differences of opinion.

I work in a predominantly female company and I am lucky to have a rather understanding employer: I told him last week that I would not be working on Friday afternoon to participate in the event. He was surprised but he recognized my right to strike. My colleagues supported me and two even decided to join me in going to the demonstration. I do not believe this will have a negative impact on my professional life, but I remain vigilant for possible discrimination or retaliation.

Maud, 24 years old

Read also: Everything you need to know about the feminist strike for International Women’s Day

“Striking is an act of resistance against the patriarchal system”

After marching, like every year, against violence against women on November 25th, I will participate in the Feminist Strike on March 8th. Going on strike is vital to me, I want to demonstrate my determination to not let anything go to waste.

For me the strike is much more than a simple demonstration an act of resistance against an oppressive patriarchal system that keeps women, racialized people, LGBTQIA+ people in a subordinate position. This position not only does not allow them to have the same chances in life, but literally puts them in danger.

I consider this strike on March 8th as a joyful and militant movement, where we meet among colleagues, among friends, to resist discrimination and oppression together. I myself have been part of a feminist collective in Normandy for several years (I live near Caen) and I know that I will see familiar faces at the meeting point.

I am “lucky” to be freelance and to be able to choose not to work to support the mobilization. I know this is not the case for everyone. Even if striking is theoretically a right, we know that in companies it is not always easy to claim it, especially when there is no trade union behind it. It is for all those who have not been able to stop working that I am mobilizing.

Houda, 35 years old

“I’m on strike for household chores”

As I am a hospital nurse, I will not be able to go on strike and stop work on March 8th. But this it won’t stop me from making my voice heard in my private circle striking from domestic work, at home.

This decision is the result of a long reflection on the weight of gender norms in our society. I see the consequences on women’s mental and physical health every day at work, I also feel them at home, I also see them in my friends.

My shifts in the hospital last twelve hours, where we work in degraded conditions (the public hospital is in a deplorable state but that’s another story) and when I go home in the evening, I have a “second day” waiting for me: housework and household chores, most of which I take care of.

And I’m not the only one, as INSEE data shows: women dedicate on average 3 hours a day to housework, men 1 hour and 45 minutes, mothers dedicate on average 1 hour and 35 minutes to parenting tasks and fathers 41 minutes on average… The choice to go on strike in housework is therefore my way of protesting against this invisible and unpaid work.

My partner, however, is not the worst in the world: he is well aware of the weight that weighs on my shoulders every day and tries as best he can to “take his share” by taking care of the house and home. children. But despite this, for him and for others I continue to consider myself the reference point for domestic work and education. On a daily basis, I am the one who takes care of the meals, who takes care of our children the most and who carries the mental load of all the tasks that he doesn’t even think about, such as medical visits, shopping for clothing, school supplies, registering for activities, etc.

My partner knows – and largely shares – my feminist commitment, so he has no problem if I decide to strike on March 8th. This decision was even allowed we discussed frankly the distribution of family responsibilities, and how much they can sometimes weigh on me. I don’t yet know if this debate will be followed by a review of our organization and a questioning on its part, but for once I want to be optimistic.

Pia, 41 years old

“The fact that we can come together gives hope and strength”

This year, March 8 comes four days after the constitutionalization of abortion, a beautiful tree (and again) hiding an ugly forest where women’s rights are far from being the primary concern of the political classes. It’s nice to see abortion in the Constitution, but the right to housing also exists and this does not prevent there being more and more homeless people in France. Constitutionalization does not mean more resources for hospitals or associations. This is precisely what we must not lose sight of: women’s rights are related to social rights and are all more or less threatened today by budget cuts and quite frontal attacks. At the same time, we see that domestic violence issues are still far from being assimilated by the general population in the media and political sphere.

I don’t know if this particular strike will change the face of the world overnight, but the fact that we can come together, even from afar, every year with the same overall goal, yes, it gives visibility and also gives hope and strength. And change happens little by little, so yes, we are moving forward thanks to these mobilizations.

Today I’m not formally striking: I took a recovery day. I work in European institutions with a French contract and for me it was simply easier. On the other hand, what motivated me was first of all being able to choose what I will do with this day which is “mine”. I need this time on a personal level to put in order many things that should allow me to change my professional path, and I find it nice to use this day to start my life change, which I consider a bit like a reconquest of power in my current journey . It has already happened to me that I “steal” an afternoon or a day on March 8 without expressly reporting it. This time I communicated the reason.

I informed my superior but I didn’t speak to the men of the team, who are already struggling to understand why from today on the ground floor of our building there will be an exhibition on the theme of inclusiveness and gender equality. They don’t “see the connection to Women’s Rights Day.” I told them that’s why there was still work. It’s a non-topic for them and they’re always surprised when it comes up. We are a team of ten people, including seven men, all white, ages 45 to 55, and are, in fact, very comfortable in their unawareness of their racial, gender, and class privileges (mostly part).

Morgana, 31 years old

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