Under The Angsana Tree: International Women's Day 2017

Update 10 Mar 2017: Tangs Celebrates International Women’s Day

Tangs Tactfully Celebrates International Women’s Day — With Frying Pan Discounts

In case you’re wondering what to get your wife/girlfriend for International Women’s Day, never fear, Tangs is here!

International Women’s Day was on Wednesday (March 8), but we don’t blame people for not knowing that, as it’s not really a day that’s widely celebrated in Singapore (i.e. no public holiday) — except by stores trying to capitalise on a marketing opportunity.

Tangs duly did so, but unfortunately it was in a way that irked women’s activists. The well-known Singapore department store offered discounts on a range of items they probably deemed as “woman-friendly”, including a couple of frying pans.

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International Women's Day as a vehicle for change, is it possible?

For International Women's Day 2017, we're asking you to #BeBoldForChange

Last year, organizations and individuals around the world supported the #PledgeForParity campaign and committed to help women and girls achieve their ambitions; challenge conscious and unconscious bias; call for gender-balanced leadership; value women and men's contributions equally; and create inclusive flexible cultures. From awareness raising to concrete action, organizations rallied their people to pledge support to help forge gender parity on International Women’s Day (IWD) and beyond.

But the World Economic Forum predicts the gender gap won't close entirely until 2186. This is too long to wait. Around the world, IWD can be an important catalyst and vehicle for driving greater change for women and moving closer to gender parity. What if the world truly stepped up to take bold action?

Will you #BeBoldForChange on International Women's Day 2017 and beyond by taking groundbreaking action that truly drives the greatest change for women. Each one of us - with women, men and non-binary people joining forces - can be a leader within our own spheres of influence by taking bold pragmatic action to accelerate gender parity. Through purposeful collaboration, we can help women advance and unleash the limitless potential offered to economies the world over.

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Women's March‏ @womensmarch Mar 1

On 1/21, we marched. On 3/8, we strike. Join us in making March 8th a:

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A Day Without A Woman

On International Women's Day, March 8th, women and our allies will act together for equity, justice and the human rights of women and all gender-oppressed people, through a one-day demonstration of economic solidarity.

In the same spirit of love and liberation that inspired the Women's March, we join together in making March 8th A Day Without a Woman, recognizing the enormous value that women of all backgrounds add to our socio-economic system--while receiving lower wages and experiencing greater inequities, vulnerability to discrimination, sexual harassment, and job insecurity. We recognize that trans and gender nonconforming people face heightened levels of discrimination, social oppression and political targeting. We believe in gender justice.

Anyone, anywhere, can join by making March 8th A Day Without a Woman, in one or all of the following ways:

Women take the day off, from paid and unpaid labor
Avoid shopping for one day (with exceptions for small, women- and minority-owned businesses).
Wear RED in solidarity with A Day Without A Woman

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Best Women Day SMS, Facebook & WhatsApp Messages to send Happy Women’s Day greetings!

“A woman is like a tea bag—you never know how strong she is until she gets in hot water.” —Eleanor Roosevelt

Celebrated every year on March 8, International Women’s Day was earlier known as the International Working Women’s Day. This day is celebrated as a salute to all the women from every economic and political background for their love, patience and hard work. It was celebrated for the very first time in 1909 as a social event in the city of New York.

This year’s theme for International Women’s Day is ‘Women in the Changing World of Work: Planet 50-50 by 2030’ as given by the United Nations. This theme in itself, empowers women through every sphere of their lives.

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WhatsApp, text messages for the lovely ladies you know

The eighth day of March is celebrated as International Women's Day. And on this occasion, womanhood is rejoiced and the power of the feminine is acknowledged across the globe

In India, women are traditionally referred to as Lakshmi, the one who symbolises goodness, prosperity and infinite power.

Though womanhood doesn’t need a specific day for celebrations, March 8 asserts the importance of the presence of the femininity that not just gives birth to new life but also nurtures it with love, care and warmth.

On this International Women's Day, send these special messages to the lovely women in your life - she could be your mother, sister, friend, aunt, daughter, grandma or wife.

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Top 6 things every modern Indian woman wants from her man

March 8, a day dedicated to the fairer sex and celebrated as International Women’s Day all across the world. While we may honor women on this very day one way or the other, it is essential that men treat women the right way every single day.

Even today we hear cases of marital rape, molestation and dowry in India and the pressure of getting married at a certain age is still persistent in our society. When it comes to relationships, many women, even the so-called liberated, independent ones often settle or suffer in silence instead of speaking up or moving on.

So to make things easier both genders, we have drawn up a list of qualities every modern Indian woman wants her man to posses. Girls, do you agree?

Mutual respect
Sharing responsibilities
Independence
Splitting household chores
Space in a relationship
Appreciation

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More than a topless protest

Ailen Berne, 18, said: "We're doing this for equality between men and women. So that it is understood that women's breasts do not offend anyone's decency."

What is the connection between the right to go topless and a growing campaign to end violence against women in Latin America? The BBC's Daniel Pardo Vegalara reports.

Last month dozens of women gathered in central Buenos Aires to demand the right to sunbathe topless. The protest came after three women sunbathing on a beach in the capital were asked to leave by the police or face arrest.

The law is not clear about the right to sunbathe topless, but doing so is not the norm in Argentina. The incident went viral on social media and generated huge controversy.

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2017 Theme: “Women in the Changing World of Work: Planet 50-50 by 2030”

Malaysian women peacekeepers of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) at a medal ceremony in Kawkaba, south Lebanon. UN Photo/Pasqual Gorriz

"On International Women’s Day, let us all pledge to do everything we can to overcome entrenched prejudice, support engagement and activism, and promote gender equality and women’s empowerment." — UN Secretary-General, António Guterres

International Women’s Day is a time to reflect on progress made, to call for change and to celebrate acts of courage and determination by ordinary women who have played an extraordinary role in the history of their countries and communities.

The idea of this theme is to consider how to accelerate the 2030 Agenda, building momentum for the effective implementation of the new Sustainable Development Goals, especially goal number 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls; and number 4: Ensure inclusive and quality education for all and promote lifelong learning. The theme will also focus on new commitments under UN Women’s Step It Up initiative, and other existing commitments on gender equality, women’s empowerment and women’s human rights.

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Celebrating Women This International Women's Day

International Women’s Day is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity.

In 2017, #BeBoldForChange and take groundbreaking action that truly drives the greatest change for women. Each of us can be a leader within our own spheres of influence and take bold pragmatic action to accelerate gender parity. We can collectively help women advance and unleash the limitless potential offered to economies the world over.

Women are and have always been an integral part of the human society. They are a storehouse of love, affection and strength. We often mistake women to be emotionally weak. However, you'd be surprised to know that studies have revealed them to be emotionally far more stronger than men. This perhaps explains why it is they who are blessed with the gift of child bearing powers, who have the strength to leave the comforts of their maternal home and generate the same love and affection for her partner and his family and then later not only take the demanding role of a mother but also be a successful working professional.

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Why do we celebrate International Women’s Day on March 8th?

International Women’s Day is celebrated throughout the world in honour of struggles, joys and the awesomeness of being a woman. Today’s woman is a ‘Superwoman’ who is breaking all the stereotypes and the conventional moulds and is managing everything single-handedly. Today’s woman is enjoying her own identity, power, beauty and satisfaction. But that was not the case in history. And this journey helps us to understand the significance of International Women’s Day.

When is International Women’s Day? March 8, right? But the date was never constant. The day which is today a global celebration started with a protest for women’s rights.

The history dates back to 1857 when female workers protested against poor working conditions and less pay. After some five decades, in 1908 about 15,000 women in New York City protested for their rights, shorter working hours and fair pay.

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'A Day Without a Woman' strike aims to raise awareness

A mother embraces her daughter during the Women's March on January 21, 2017 in Washington, DC [Joshua Lott/AFP]

Women in the US are being encouraged to participate in a strike intended to raise awareness over issues including economic inequality, reproductive rights, civil liberties and ending violence.

The one-day protest on Wednesday, labelled as A Day Without a Woman, is aimed at calling attention to economic bias faced by women.

Organisers called on women to take the day off of work or school, and said they should not to spend money in an attempt to highlight women's role in society.

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Can't ditch work? Here are 6 ways you can still participate in the Women's Strike

The International Women's Strike, also called A Day Without a Woman, encourages women to skip work and ditch unpaid labor on International Women's Day. The March 8 strike will take place in more than 50 countries around the world, calling for gender equality, reproductive health access, labor rights and an end to gender violence.

While U.S. Women's Strike organizers said the movement was created by working class, black and migrant women — groups who often experience the most economic inequality, yet are still taking the personal risk — joining a strike arguably requires privilege. This could leave out women in low-paying jobs and hourly work, who might not have the same freedom to strike as women with more financial stability.

Many women will still work on March 8 out of necessity, and that's a decision everyone should respect. But even if you can't afford to leave your job on Wednesday, there are still ways you can participate in the Women's Strike.

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‘A day without a woman’ strike: what to expect

Demonstrators at the Women’s March on Jan. 21, 2017 in Washington, DC. (JOSHUA LOTT/AFP/Getty Images)

Schools and school districts have announced ahead of the national “A Day Without a Woman” strike planned for Wednesday that they will be closed, as much of their staffs plan to participate in the demonstration.

In New York, Virginia, and North Carolina, schools, from preschools to colleges have announced cancellations, while elsewhere groups plan to stage walkouts, marches, donation drives, or silent protests throughout the day.

The strike’s organizers, who also coordinated the massive Women’s March on Washington on Jan. 21, have encouraged participants to refrain from work on Wednesday — which is also International Women’s Day — to wear red, and to only shop at businesses owned by women. The goal is to to underscore the “economic power and significance that women have in the U.S. and global economies, while calling attention to the economic injustices women and gender nonconforming people continue to face,” organizers said in a statement.

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How to Participate in the Women’s Strike If You Can’t Miss Work

On Wednesday, March 8 (also known as International Women’s Day), a global women’s strike is set to take place in the United States and in more than 30 countries around the world. Following in the heels of the Day Without Immigrants strike and the Bodega Strike in New York, the organizers behind the Women’s March in D.C. have rallied once again to help coordinate this latest economic boycott, which has been dubbed A Day Without a Woman. According to the Women’s March website “the goal is to highlight the economic power and significance that women have in the U.S. and global economies, while calling attention to the economic injustices women and gender-nonconforming people continue to face.”

While nothing sounds more tempting than refraining from work as a way of fighting for the feminist cause, striking is simply not an option for a significant amount of women in the U.S. For starters, women hold more than two-thirds of the country’s minimum wage jobs, which rarely have paid sick days or flexible schedules. There are also those women who might not participate in the formal work force, but still have the full-time, nonnegotiable job of taking care of family members to consider. How is a single mother, for instance, supposed to strike from taking care of her children? One stay-at-home mom described the conundrum in Quartz: “In order for me to strike at home, I would have to hire help—which is itself antithetical to the premise of ‘A Day Without a Woman,‘ given that my babysitters are female,” she wrote. “At the very least, I suppose, I could order dinner that night instead of cooking and refuse to clean up after the kids. But that would only result in fewer dollars in my pocket and heart palpitations from the mess.”

Thankfully, there are a few ways for everyone to pitch in during the general strike. Below, a guide to participating in the women’s strike, even if you can’t take the day off of work on Wednesday.

Wear red
Don’t buy anything
Enlist the men in your life for help
Attend a rally

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How Will You Celebrate International Women’s Day?

International Women’s Day (IWD), which recognizes the work and achievements of women worldwide, is celebrated Wednesday.

The day also calls for attention and action to help push society towards gender equality. Women celebrate and march worldwide, including Aleppo (see video), Iran, India and the U.S.

This year’s theme is #BeBoldForChange. The theme calls for men and women around the world to voice their concerns of gender exclusion and help promote gender parity in their day to day lives.

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How To Support The Women Who Can't Take The Day Off For The "A Day Without A Woman" Strike

March 8, 2017, this year's International Women's Day, is also the date of the "A Day Without A Woman" strike, which was put together by the organizers of the Women's March on Washington. It's a day when women are encouraged to take the day off, from paid and unpaid labor, avoid shopping except at small business run by women and minorities, and are encouraged to wear red to mark themselves as allies.

If you supported the Women's March, the idea is to continue along the same lines. The Women's March website explains:

"In the same spirit of love and liberation that inspired the Women's March, we join together in making March 8th A Day Without a Woman, recognizing the enormous value that women of all backgrounds add to our socio-economic system — while receiving lower wages and experiencing greater inequities, vulnerability to discrimination, sexual harassment, and job insecurity. We recognize that trans and gender nonconforming people face heightened levels of discrimination, social oppression and political targeting. We believe in gender justice."

I think it's a great way to show the huge impact of women everywhere. But we need to remember that not every woman who isn't participating is unsupportive of the cause. Some women can't, just can't, take the day off. Whether it's for fear of being punished or they're just not being able to afford it, we need to remember not everyone is able to participate. So here's what you can do for them.

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International Women's Day 2017: What is it, how did it start and why is it still needed?

Filipino women march in Manila, Philippines, to celebrate International Women's Day 2016 CREDIT: AP PHOTO/AARON FAVILA

International Women’s Day is a worldwide event that celebrates women’s achievements – from the political to the social – while calling for gender equality.

It has been observed since the early 1900s and is now recognised each year on March 8. Is is not affiliated with any one group, but brings together governments, women's organisations, corporations and charities.

The day is marked around the world with arts performances, talks, rallies, networking events, conferences and marches.

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10 ways to celebrate International Women's Day without going on strike

Unfortunately, you'll get arrested in Singapore for going on strike to support A Day Without A Woman by Women's March. Here are 10 other ways you can participate in International Women's Day.

Imagine not showing up to work tomorrow and texting your boss this: "I'm informing you that in honour of International Women's Day, I will not be working today as part of the Women's March's A Day Without A Woman."

For International Women's Day on 8 March, Women's March wants you to experience a day without women in a demonstration of economic solidarity. They've even prepared a draft letter to send to your employers. Sounds crazy right? In an ideal world, your male boss would salute your efforts while your female boss would join the movement. But this is Singapore, where protests and strikes of any kind (i.e. alternative voices) aren't met with applause. Walking down Orchard road with a tasteful pussy bow hat and a slogan sporting female genitals might seem like an ideal way to spend the afternoon, but you'll probably get arrested for it.

related: 5 women's rights signs from the past that won't look out of place now

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Full Covergae:

08/03/2017

International Women's Day 2017