Celebrating International Women’s Day

When I started living abroad in 2015, I was struck by the importance of International Women’s Day in many other parts of the world. The first-ever celebration occurred in New York in 1909, when thousands of garment workers went on strike to protest poor working conditions and low wages. Yet many Americans have had little exposure to International Women’s Day, which has grown more popular in other countries, especially in Europe, since the labor movements of the early 20th century.

Feminism today in Barcelona has much to do with the idea of intersectionality, which is based on the principle that there is no one-size-fits-all type of feminism.

Whether through a march or protest, International Women’s Day events typically combine a celebration of women (e.g. concert, lecture, panel) with a local call for action. As movements such as #metoo, #niunamenos and #elenao — which raise awareness about sexual harassment, gender violence and machismo, respectively — start to grow, the global visibility of International Women’s Day has become stronger as well. Last year’s celebration in Spain was marked by a landmark strike in which some 5 million working women participated, including several prominent politicians like Barcelona mayor Ada Colau.

Barcelona is no stranger to social activism and has long-standing roots in the feminist movement. The same year that the first International Women’s Day was held in New York was also a pivotal one for feminism in Barcelona. In 1909, Francesca Bonnemaison, a pedagogue from a prominent family, founded the Biblioteca Popular de la Dona, the first public women’s library in all of Europe. Two years later, the library began running educational programs and job trainings, mixing women of all socio-economic classes. The space still exists today as the women’s cultural center La Bonne and is a pillar in the local feminist community.

Despite this center in Barcelona, as well as growing feminist and suffragist movements in the surrounding country and continent, women in Spain would not gain the right to vote for another 20 years when the second Spanish Republic was declared in 1931. However, it wasn’t until Franco’s death in late 1975 that the feminist movement as we now know it began to emerge.

Following the United Nations’ first world conference on women in 1975, the following spring Catalunya hosted the Jornades Catalanes de la Dona, a series of workshops on the woman’s role in a post-Franco world and practical policy reform that attracted over 4,000 women across various backgrounds, ideologies and professions. At the center of their discussions was the archetype of womanhood imposed by the Franco regime and challenging it by confronting the daily tasks put upon them as women, like housekeeping and child rearing.

At that point, adultery was still punishable by law, both divorce and abortion were illegal and women could not work without their father or husband’s permission. Some of the major conclusions reached by the women at the Jornades emphasized an end to labor discrimination, the social rights of homemakers, mandatory public education and a woman’s right to her own body.

The diversity of those who participated was critical to the success of the convention and laid the groundwork for a more unified feminist movement. Major legislative reform would come later, in the 80s and 90s, as feminism became a larger part of the social consciousness and in 1989, the Generalitat de Catalunya founded the Institut Català de les Dones, which evaluates and promotes gender equality in Catalonia to this day.

In 1909, Francesca Bonnemaison, a pedagogue from a prominent family, founded the Biblioteca Popular de la Dona, the first public women’s library in all of Europe.

Feminism today in Barcelona has much to do with the idea of intersectionality, which is based on the principle that there is no one-size-fits-all type of feminism. The Civil Rights figure and American law professor Kimberlé Crenshaw coined the term “intersectionality” in 1989, defining it as “the view that women experience oppression in varying configurations and in varying degrees of intensity.” In other words, it’s the idea that cultural patterns of oppression are interrelated and influenced by the intersectional systems of society, such as race and ethnicity, gender, class and ability.

In a similar vein, the theme for this year’s International Women’s Day is #BalanceforBetter. It emphasizes the power of collective action and frames feminism as more than just a women’s issue. The organizers of this year’s march in Barcelona are working to make their campaign more intersectional. They plan on calling attention to issues that sex workers and migrant women face in today’s society as part of their manifesto.

Feeling inspired to be a part of the movement?

There are many more ways to participate and get involved beyond just International Women’s Day. Barcelona has a wide selection of groups and organizations doing amazing work in the community.

Ca de la Dona

This organization was born from the need to have a meeting place for the feminist community. It aims to be an anti-racist, anti-capitalist safe space in Barri Gòtic where women can support each other and work together to instigate change. In addition to holding frequent general assemblies to discuss current issues, Ca de la Dona has a women’s library, legal service center, art collective and an organic garden. They are be the central organizational space for all those participating in the 2019 International Women’s Day strike on March 8. If you would like to get involved, email info@vagafeminista.cat

La Bonne

Since its founding in 1909 by Francesca Bonnemaison, La Bonne has transformed into a meeting place for the exchange and creation of ideas for the local feminist organizations. In particular, La Bonne focuses on developing and sharing audiovisual and performance art productions, offering classes in documentary filmmaking, producing theatrical shows and running art exhibitions at their location in El Born. They also work to help strengthen integration for the immigrant community. To check out their current and future projects go to labonne.org.

ACATHI

The founders of the Catalan Association for the Integration of Gay, Bisexual and Trans People (ACATHI) saw a critical need to create an environment to support the more than 300 people from more than 37 countries in Catalunya’s immigrant LGBTQ community. Some of the many services they provide include housing support, social and psychological services and language classes. In an upcoming joint campaign with the Ajuntament of Barcelona, ACATHI is working to educate and sensitize the local community to the issues that an LGBTQ refugee might face. Go to www.teaming.net/acathi to donate and support ACATHI’s work.

Homes Igualitaris

With the motto “Every man is a revolution waiting to come out,” this group’s focus is on individual transformation. They offer safe spaces where men can practice active listening, be vulnerable and share their feelings on the issues at hand in the feminist movement. For the upcoming women’s strike on March 8, they recommend showing up to work and donating to a feminist organization, as well as finding a way to help your female friends and family be able to strike that day. If you choose to attend the protest, rather than calling attention to yourself with a sign, they encourage you to show your support for the movement just with your presence. Find out more at homesigualitaris.wordpress.com.

Women’s March Barcelona

This group was founded by a group of diverse women who were inspired by the movement of the same name that sprang up after the 2016 presidential election in the U.S. Since then, Women’s March Barcelona has grown and expanded its mission to include fighting for marginalized groups and working with local organizations in the city. With events like V Day (a global theatrical production to combat gender violence), Women’s March is establishing its mark as a local promoter of activism. Go to womensmarchbcn.org for more information on upcoming events.