International Women’s Day 2021: ‘We are here organising a strong feminist movement in Bristol’

Women across the world will striking on Monday, March 8 – International Women’s Day.

Bristol’s Women’s Strike Assembly will bring local organisations together to protest against sexual harassment, extortionate childcare, unjust working conditions and other feminist issues.

“We all joined as we all share the same values regarding the position of women in today’s world” says Paula Mas Mas, one of the organisers.

“We are here organising a strong feminist movement in the city of Bristol and this includes planning actions for Women’s strike taking place on March 8.”

In 2020, almost 1,000 people took to Bristol’s streets to protest against patriarchal struggles in a march organised by the Bristol branch of the Women’s Strike Assembly, which includes organisations such as Plan C Bristol, Bristol Sisterhood, Easton Cowgirls and the Bristol Kurdish Solidarity Group.

This year, due to ongoing pandemic, an in-person strike is not possible. Instead, the assembly is encouraging people to participate online and visit Queen Square in a safe manner.

The International Women’s Day strike held in 2020. Photo: Ruby Lopez

“In addition to launching an online campaign we are organising a public space in Queen’s Square, in a socially-distanced manner,” says Paula, who lives in east Bristol.

“People can leave banners, flowers, candles, fabrics, ribbons and any other symbolic items. We will show different infographics on why it’s important to strike and the different ways of doing it, we will be giving information to passers-by. Some of us will create small groups to cycle around Bristol sharing our feminist message.

“On this day we will take a moment to grieve the ones we have lost – both due to Covid-19 but also due to femicides (the killing of a woman or girl, in particular by a man and on account of her gender), which numbers have increased as women are forced to share the same space with abusers – and we will continue to build a feminist resistance.”

The message of the International Women’s Day strike is “if women stop, the world stops with us” and Paula says that, over the past 12 months, that has been shown more than ever.

“Our labour has become more essential in keeping our community and our economy going,” she says. “We are confined to space where the triple shift is even more pronounced. This is our paid work, our unpaid reproductive work, and the emotional labour we give to our communities.

“We’re the ones holding the care crisis in our hands.”

Almost 1,000 took part in Bristol’s 2020 strike. Photo: Ruby Lopez

In addition, the strike will also protest against the rise in domestic abuse, in addition to the sexual violence faced by women daily in the form of sexism, harassment, sexual abuse and rape.

On Monday, March 8, the assembly, along with women and marginalised women across the world, will denounce the patriarchy and fight for equality and safety for all.

“We denounce the oppression based on our sexual effective identities and orientations, skin colour and nationality, trans women’s rights being violated, non-binary people being judged, gays and lesbians being excluded, people of colour, migrants and sex worker are marginalised,” says Paula. “The list is endless.

“International Women’s Day is a day to remember that we want to create a community of people that is inclusive. We would like to encourage people of all genders and identities to join our feminist fight.”

Main photo: Ruby Lopez

Read more: International Women’s Day event champions solidarity, empowerment and intersectionality