After the 2016 election, some naysayers did not believe organizers would have enough time to “pull off” a Women’s March on Washington the day after the presidential Inauguration. Turns out, not only was there enough time, it was the best time, and close to five million women, children and men around the world (on every continent) showed up to rally and march for human rights. And that was just the beginning.
This week, the organizers of the Women’s March are encouraging everyone to take part in A Day Without A Woman, which joins and supports the International Women’s Strike. The event will be held this Wednesday, March 8, 2017. If possible, women are encouraged not to work on Wednesday, whether they are paid or unpaid, wear red, and avoid spending money.
“The goal is to highlight the economic power and significance that women have in the US and global economies, while calling attention to the economic injustices women and gender nonconforming people continue to face. We play an indispensable role in the daily functions of life in all of society, through paid & unpaid, seen & unseen labor...
We must end the hiring discrimination that women, particularly mothers, women of color, women with disabilities, Indigenous women, lesbian, queer and trans women still face each day in our nation. We believe that creating workforce opportunities that reduce discrimination against women and mothers allow economies to thrive. Nations and industries that support and invest in caregiving and basic workplace protections—including benefits like paid family leave, access to affordable childcare, sick days, healthcare, fair pay, vacation time, and healthy work environments—have shown growth and increased capacity ...
We believe that all workers must have the right to organize and fight for a living minimum wage, and that unions and other labor associations are critical to a healthy and thriving economy for all… “
The event is already having an impact on schools. Matthew Haag with The New York Times reports:
School districts in Virginia and North Carolina are telling students to stay home on Wednesday, on a nationwide day of protest called “A Day Without Women,” because so many staff members do not plan to show up for work.
In Alexandria Public Schools in Northern Virginia, more than 300 staff members have asked for the day off, prompting district officials to take the extraordinary step of canceling class. In a note on its website, the superintendent said its 18 schools would not have enough teachers on Wednesday.
In the Chapel Hill area of North Carolina, over 12,000 students will be staying home.
“It is my determination that we will not have enough staff to safely run our school district,” the interim superintendent, Jim Causby, said in a letter on the district’s website.
Both school districts cited the observance of International Women’s Day as the reason for the staffing shortages. Nationwide, more than three-quarters of all teachers are women, according to the National Center for Educational Statistics.
On the Women’s March Twitter page they write:
On [January 21, 2017] we marched. On [March 8, 2017] we strike! Join us for a #DayWithoutAWoman.
Directly on their website, Women’s March states that A Day Without a Woman reaffirms the commitment to the Principles of Unity and it “supports the International Women’s Strike organizers, feminists of color and grassroots groups in planning global actions for equity, justice and human rights,” adding:
“When millions of us stood together in January, we saw clearly that our army of love greatly outnumbers that of fear, greed and hatred.
Let’s raise our voices together again, to say that women’s rights are human rights, regardless of a woman’s race, ethnicity, religion, immigration status, sexual identity, gender expression, economic status, age or disability.”
Reporter Susan Miller with USA Today compiled some quick tips about the day. Here are excerpts paraphrased below.
How women will participate
By not going to work, whether their job is paid or unpaid, women are participating and are also asked not to shop for one day, and if they must, only patronize companies that are owned by women or are small businesses that support A Day Without Women.
If you can't take the day off
“Many women in our most vulnerable communities will not have the ability to join the strike, due to economic insecurity. We strike for them.”
Sometime during the day, or all day, wear the color red in solidarity for all women and avoid spending money if you can.
What to wear
Women are asked to wear the color red to represent “revolutionary love and sacrifice.” Red also has a history with the labor movement.
How men will participate
By helping to cover caregiving and domestic chores on Wednesday, men will participate. They can also rally for equal pay for women.
How will companies participate
By closing for the day or letting female workers have the day off, companies can participate. Something else they can do is evaluate their roles in how they pay women. Do they offer equal pay? Do they offer paid leave?
If you are the head of a household and wish to pariticapte, you would give a paid day off to caregivers, nannies and housekeepers.
The Women’s March website includes links and more information about the day.
- For more information on A Day Without A Woman, please see our FAQs.
- For a template letter to inform your employer of your participation in A Day Without A Woman, click here.
- For social media content and graphics, please check out this page.
- New Yorkers, click here for more information about a gathering on A Day Without A Woman.
This will be another historic day in America
Please share the news of this event with friends and family and/or on your personal social media platforms of Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Email ... for some women, participating will simply mean taking off work and doing something you want or love to do, other than work.