View Full Version : Day Without a Woman General Strike
All my female staff showed up today. It will be interesting to see how much traction this thing gets.
iris lilies
3-8-17, 10:16am
All my female staff showed up today. It will be interesting to see how much traction this thing gets.
I didnt even know it was a thng until reading your message.
As a retired woman, I am marginalized to the point of not being informed about my marginalization.
I didn't go to work today, took a "vacation" day instead.
I'm a retired professional woman and I think this is stupid. If I were still in the workplace, I would have people depending on me for my expertise. What about at home, mothers with young children are supposed to take the day off and not take care of them?
IshbelRobertson
3-8-17, 11:21am
Pointless grandstanding, IMO.
ToomuchStuff
3-8-17, 11:26am
Someone has to say it.....
Why didn't a woman tell me about this?:~)
I'm a retired professional woman and I think this is stupid. If I were still in the workplace, I would have people depending on me for my expertise. What about at home, mothers with young children are supposed to take the day off and not take care of them?
+1
Our local (very leftist) online rag is all gung-ho about it, and one of their "reporters" wrote up a story encouraging every woman to abandon their posts, not shop in town, and wear red.
The "reporter" interviewed the owner of the local pharmacy, who is also one of our county council members, and a white male. When asked if his employees were participating, he said "um, no, they're all women, and we'd have to close". "Well, isn't that the point?" the reporter snarkily commented.
Yes, I suppose the point is to close down the one source of medicines in our community for a day, to make some deranged display of free-form solidarity. Because that won't, I don't know, cause serious health issues if someone needs meds....
I asked the reporter if most of our county EMS/Fire/Law dispatchers should abandon their post for the day, as they and their supervisor are females... And the Captain of our main fire station, who is female. And about 1/2 of our ambulance drivers/EMTs, as well as my main partner for interior firefighting and technical rescue work. No answer, just a sigh and some eye-rolling for my misogyny. (And I didn't dare ask if trans-women were welcome at their strike-celebration event, as I wasn't sure what generation of feminism was going to be carrying the day.)
Most of the people hereabout participating in the "strike" don't seem to have actual jobs though. And seem to be operating from a position of great privilege.
I do think your thread title is a bit off, OP! It implies something different than what you are trying to say. (I hope.)
I do think your thread title is a bit off, OP! It implies something different than what you are trying to say. (I hope.)
My local news referred to it as a "general strike on international women's day". Did I get that wrong?
My local news referred to it as a "general strike on international women's day". Did I get that wrong?
Ah. My wife just explained it to me.
I think those who do not work out of the home (for money), such as mothers and wives, are some of the most important of women. How do they take the day off? Women with a sense of worth and responsibility, those with the most important jobs, will be at home or at work doing their job.
ApatheticNoMore
3-8-17, 5:19pm
when every day is a day off work obviously you don't need to take days off work. If one was really motivated to go to a protest I believe they could find a way regardless. If not oh well they are just like many others who might want to but can't find a way, like those who don't have paid time off at their jobs for instance (it's not a legal requirement in this country to have ANY sick or vacation days - maybe there should be a protest about that).
To the extent that the issues are work issues (equal pay for paid work), yea you probably do need to work for pay to have a relevant opinion on that, but to extent that they are non-work related woman's issues then not so much so.
Imagine if every female in healthcare in the USA called in 'striking'. Irresponsible expectation. We can support women and be strong without enmass sick calls. I think it was a pathetic request.
And every female law enforcement officer? And every school teacher? Ridiculous!
As the only male on staff where I work, I gotta say it was weird being there all by myself all day!
Imagine if every female in healthcare in the USA called in 'striking'. Irresponsible expectation. We can support women and be strong without enmass sick calls. I think it was a pathetic request.
And every female law enforcement officer? And every school teacher? Ridiculous!
The world isn't going to end if 76% of school teachers strike for a day. And as much as the "secretary of education" hates public school teachers maybe they should.
Chicken lady
3-8-17, 10:34pm
Were you really?
i think the point was to raise people's awareness about the contributions women make to the economy.
including unpaid work -
imagine if all those stay at home moms actually did take the day off and the dads had to call off work to care for their children....
i'm a teacher. I find my job too important to walk away from it to make a point. So I put on my red shirt and went to work. I think the only people who noticed were the other teacher in a red shirt and her girlfriend who came for lunch.
ApatheticNoMore
3-9-17, 3:24am
I think how I and many people may have viewed it is:
1) high cost (miss a day of work - look I take days off work ok, but especially without giving advance notice the amount one can take of those are limited if one wants to stay employed and I use mine when I can stand work no more mostly). Plus I think politics being obvious at work is dangerous. The two don't mix. Well unless one is unionizing and it's inevitable at that point.
2) and low benefit (what specifically is the strike for?). I think if people are going to miss work (high cost) they probably want to see a very large movement with a very specific message sent maybe. If a union is on strike people working there may be missing work, but there is no doubt what is being fought for (and they are all in the same boat). But what kind of specific message is going to be sent if it's a global movement? Not all politics are that global (really it's not, although there are global trends, people usually want very specific things out of their very specific government - well ok climate change is global - but most issues are somewhat country specific).
Were you really?
i think the point was to raise people's awareness about the contributions women make to the economy.
including unpaid work -
imagine if all those stay at home moms actually did take the day off and the dads had to call off work to care for their children....
yes if people really wanted to go they can often find a way (I think many of the working poor can't, but that's a different demographic).
i'm a teacher. I find my job too important to walk away from it to make a point. So I put on my red shirt and went to work. I think the only people who noticed were the other teacher in a red shirt and her girlfriend who came for lunch.
I don't think anyone would notice, but I still think no upside to politics at work (yea except unionizing and other things that could actually improve work itself)
No, I was joking! All the women showed up at my work -- which is all women except me.
I did have a friend who went to some activities for women's day, but did not take part in the strike. It was interesting because the activities were facilitated by women and women were the attendees. Childcare was provided so that women could facilitate and attend these activities, but the childcare was provided by other women.
Chicken lady
3-9-17, 8:29am
I thought you might be, but if you weren't I was really going to need to know exactly where you work that that would happen.
Less than 1 in 5 women in the US "self-identify" as feminists.
Chicken lady
3-9-17, 9:48am
Which is the sort of statistic that made me immensely curious about the nature of a mostly female workplace that would actually have 100% participation in the "strike".
(I put that in quotes because I don't think it qualifies as a strike in the traditional sense.)
i would "self-identify" as a humanist if that word hadn't been given a religious denotation.
I read somewhere that one of the goals of the strike was to overcome society's expectation that women smile. Is that true?
I was at a conference I have been waiting to get to for a long time so all 16 women and 1 man were there (and he was the support person getting lunches and materials and setting up dinner reservations). However I will say it was a topic during the day at times, we all felt our work was not something to just call-out on. I saw a lot of ideas of how you could support without calling out of work which was good.
Imagine if every female in healthcare in the USA called in 'striking'. Irresponsible expectation. We can support women and be strong without enmass sick calls. I think it was a pathetic request.
And every female law enforcement officer? And every school teacher? Ridiculous!
That reminds me of the New Yorker cartoon with the banner on an office building that reads "Welcome Back Inessential Personnel".
Chicken lady
3-9-17, 10:26am
I introduced a young woman who is planning her education and career to a mentor who has walked a very similar life path and can help her make better decisions to achieve her goals more easily.
at an opportune moment.
because I was at work.
i'm very goal oriented. If calling off had served my goals, I would have called off. If there is a day when I feel I can be more effective elsewhere, I will call off. But i'm kind of behind all the lines about showing up being a key element in life. As long as I have a place I feel like I can be a force for good, I will show up.
tonight it means sticking labels on blank jars of jelly at the food bank. (And recycling their case wrap)
I wasn't on strike yesterday. I only work part-time and I'm always off on Wednesdays.
ApatheticNoMore
3-9-17, 11:44am
That reminds me of the New Yorker cartoon with the banner on an office building that reads "Welcome Back Inessential Personnel".
otoh the essential personal got a 3 am phone call to deal with a crisis again last night and still had to get to work bright and early, their spouse hates them for it too. Think very hard about what you really want to be ... And if you aren't essential enough to be bothered nights and weekends, you probably aren't that essential.
I didnt even know it was a thng until reading your message.
As a retired woman, I am marginalized to the point of not being informed about my marginalization.
:laff:
I read somewhere that one of the goals of the strike was to overcome society's expectation that women smile. Is that true?
I have no idea. Do people--often complete strangers--regularly badger you to smile, Alan? I doubt it.
It's a thing, and symbolic, and annoying, at the least.
I have no idea. Do people--often complete strangers--regularly badger you to smile, Alan? No, I'm generally pretty smiley without being prompted. Do they badger you?
I've aged out, so I'm not a target any more.
I've never been one to walk around grinning like a chimp, so I used to get that a lot. Always from men. I highly doubt that you, or any other man, is regularly told by strangers to alter your expression for their satisfaction.
ToomuchStuff
3-9-17, 1:28pm
I've aged out, so I'm not a target any more.
I've never been one to walk around grinning like a chimp, so I used to get that a lot. Always from men. I highly doubt that you, or any other man, is regularly told by strangers to alter your expression for their satisfaction.
Not quite so sure about that, I am "told" to smile more, fairly often by women. My normal, polite response is "I didn't know I wasn't" (which leaves them wondering if there is some condition and they drop it), my other responses are just not say anything and walk away, or one that involves a you. Not the reaction they are hoping for.
Not quite so sure about that, I am "told" to smile more, fairly often by women. My normal, polite response is "I didn't know I wasn't" (which leaves them wondering if there is some condition and they drop it), my other responses are just not say anything and walk away, or one that involves a you. Not the reaction they are hoping for.
I'm surprised at that. I'd never presume to tell someone else how they should arrange their face to my satisfaction. "* you!" might be just ticket.
ToomuchStuff
3-9-17, 1:50pm
I'm surprised at that. I'd never presume to tell someone else how they should arrange their face to my satisfaction. "* you!" might be just ticket.
It was what I wanted to say the other day, when my blood pressure was up due to a thief and an idiot employer, who generally pays more attention to their toys, then the stuff we keep around to keep things running.
I had a customer tell me that and I walked away. It is Thursday and I am now almost down to normal due to the whole incident.
Generally, I think people are naive enough to think whatever day they are having, so should you.
I'm surprised at that. I'd never presume to tell someone else how they should arrange their face to my satisfaction. "* you!" might be just ticket.
I once told an acquaintance that she should smile more (I would never, however, say that to a stranger), not for my benefit but for hers. Not presuming to tell her what to do but as a suggestion. She has a beautiful smile that brightens her face and is ‘infectious happy’ to those around her. I told her because I thought she would feel good knowing how pretty her smile is and how she may brighten another’s day just by smiling. I meant it as a compliment.
I once told an acquaintance that she should smile more (I would never, however, say that to a stranger), not for my benefit but for hers. Not presuming to tell her what to do but as a suggestion. She has a beautiful smile that brightens her face and is ‘infectious happy’ to those around her. I told her because I thought she would feel good knowing how pretty her smile is and how she may brighten another’s day just by smiling. I meant it as a compliment.
Yes, but you're not a man. If you were it would obviously be some sort of patriarchal power play because, well, I'm not sure why.
TVRodriguez
3-9-17, 3:34pm
I participated in the strike yesterday from my paid work (although still did plenty of unpaid work in home and family). I closed my office and gave my assistant a partially paid day off (she's hourly and I paid her for 1/3 of a regular day). She was going to participate anyway, and the 1/3 pay was my own suggestion. I put up an out of office auto reply on my email. I did not spend money and wore red as I took my kids to and from school and CCD. Those women in my (shared) office whose employers did not allow them to take the day off chose to wear red in support.
The organizers did not do enough to make it happen in the best way possible. For those asking 'what about this type of job or that type of job and such-and-such business would have had to close' -- yes, that would be the point.
The best example of "the point" is the 1975 "Women's Day Off" in Iceland, where 90% of women participated in the strike--including both paid and unpaid labor inside and outside the home, and 10% of the entire nation's population participated in a rally/talk that same evening. Many many differences exist between the US in 2017 and Iceland in 1975 that made it difficult for yesterday's strike to gain anything close to that kind of traction. There is an enormous difference in population size, demographics, etc, plus the political climate then and now are worlds apart. As many have noted, Ronald Reagan would never have won the nomination of the Republican party in 2016.
I find it odd that so many women in the US not only do not identify as feminists but revile the word, while at the same time making flippant comments like "I voted Republican because I can afford my own abortion" and "I'm not aware of any rights I don't have." Those are actual comments I've heard from so-called "conservative" women. If it had not been for those feminists of the past and present, they would be lacking plenty of rights.
Here are a couple of links on the 1975 event and its outcome for those interested:
http://nvdatabase.swarthmore.edu/content/icelandic-women-strike-economic-and-social-equality-1975
https://mic.com/articles/113620/40-years-after-women-went-on-strike-in-iceland-here-s-what-gender-equality-looks-like#.L9Qay09TI
I think any sentence that starts with "You should", is crossing a lot of boundaries.
TVRodriguez
3-9-17, 3:35pm
Yes, but you're not a man. If you were it would obviously be some sort of patriarchal power play because, well, I'm not sure why.
Really?
Really?
Apparently: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/inspired-life/wp/2017/03/08/some-women-are-striking-from-smiling-today-heres-why/?utm_term=.2b087f1c2afb
“Stop telling women to smile” has become a rallying point for feminists who say that men who cajole or prompt women to smile in public are asserting control.
Apparently: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/inspired-life/wp/2017/03/08/some-women-are-striking-from-smiling-today-heres-why/?utm_term=.2b087f1c2afb
“Stop telling women to smile” has become a rallying point for feminists who say that men who cajole or prompt women to smile in public are asserting control.
I'm glad you cleared that up; it's always helpful to get a man's take on an issue that overwhelmingly affects women.
"Prompt women to smile?" Hahaha! "Oh thanks so much for reminding me that I have a duty to society to walk around with a permagrin on my face."
I ...
I find it odd that so many women in the US not only do not identify as feminists but revile the word, while at the same time making flippant comments like "I voted Republican because I can afford my own abortion" and "I'm not aware of any rights I don't have." Those are actual comments I've heard from so-called "conservative" women. If it had not been for those feminists of the past and present, they would be lacking plenty of rights.
Here are a couple of links on the 1975 event and its outcome for those interested:
http://nvdatabase.swarthmore.edu/content/icelandic-women-strike-economic-and-social-equality-1975
https://mic.com/articles/113620/40-years-after-women-went-on-strike-in-iceland-here-s-what-gender-equality-looks-like#.L9Qay09TI
It's my guess that many of these women are financially dependent on their husbands.
I'm well aware that feminists have made a lot of gains since the seventies. A couple of years before I bought my first property, lending institution were still requiring male co-signers on mortgage loans. And that was just one of many inequities we've overcome. But there is work left to do.
ApatheticNoMore
3-9-17, 4:37pm
Some people are just depressed, maybe only a little, maybe a lot (telling a depressed person to smile doesn't seem helpful to me, you also don't know what is going on in their life). Some people merely tend to be serious or lost in thought (which isn't going to present as happy, but isn't actually necessarily unhappy! It's just kind of elsewhere, but I think it reads as unhappy to outside observers). Some people just have unhappy looking faces. They can't help it, they just do.
I think I smile when it's inappropriate, several times in my life I have been told I smile when telling the worst memories etc.. Yea I did learn to please early as a child.
I'm glad you cleared that up; it's always helpful to get a man's take on an issue that overwhelmingly affects women.
That was written by a woman, so, whatever....
ApatheticNoMore
3-9-17, 4:50pm
I never saw the sexist (or sexual) content of being asked to smile though, I took it on a par with how introverts are sometimes asked to talk more, yea, yea I get it already, so I have been told all my life, my personality type is not the social ideal ... blah, blah, whatever.
Yes, but you're not a man. If you were it would obviously be some sort of patriarchal power play because, well, I'm not sure why.
Very true, I am not a man. Never have been and never want to be - just happy with the gender God made me (yes, that is what I believe). I must be old. I appreciate a compliment from a man. I appreciate it when a gentleman holds the door open for me. I appreciate it when the young man at the feed store offers to carry a 40# bag of chicken feed to the truck for me. I don’t mind it when people say ‘you should’ to me, such as ‘you should move faster so that falling cement block does not hit you on the head’. ‘You should lose weight’, while may be true, is a little personal but I don’t mind because I do need to lose 10#. I’m not easily offended and I don’t get a lot of the extreme sensitivity exhibited by many in today’s world.
Yup, I am old. I remember the (late) 50’s and can attest that things are very different today based on experience and a good memory. Time to start dinner for my husband who will be home from work shortly. :)
I'm glad you cleared that up; it's always helpful to get a man's take on an issue that overwhelmingly affects women.
Are you assuming the gender of the author?
The Washington Post article, from which that quote comes, was written by Michael Alison Chandler. From the bio on the WP website:
"Michael Alison Chandler writes about families, gender and religion. In recent years, she has also covered education across the Washington region.
The Ohio native has lived on both coasts. She has a graduate degree from the U.C. Berkeley School of Journalism. Now she lives in the District with her husband and two children."
"Are you assuming the gender of the author?"
I'm assuming that Alan quoted it because he agreed with it.
I'm assuming that Alan quoted it because he agreed with it.
I'll never tell, I've finally gotten old enough and experienced enough to know better than share an opinion on matters of sex, race, religion or the relative merits of feminism. But, quoting others and seeing the response is just as fun.
Yes, but you're not a man. If you were it would obviously be some sort of patriarchal power play because, well, I'm not sure why.
Even if it was a patriarchal power play, it is essentially harmless in the physical sense. The price we pay for living in a fairly free and open society is that people will say dumb sh*t to us and about us.
But as Daniel Suelo once said: "What other people think of you is none of your business."
I think any sentence that starts with "You should", is crossing a lot of boundaries.
You should not say any sentence that starts with "you should."
I'll never tell, I've finally gotten old enough and experienced enough to know better than share an opinion on matters of sex, race, religion or the relative merits of feminism. But, quoting others and seeing the response is just as fun.
Well glad (maybe not) to help you be amused. I am not sure how to take that, doesn't feel too great honestly
Ultralight
3-10-17, 7:00am
Well glad (maybe not) to help you be amused. I am not sure how to take that, doesn't feel too great honestly
But why do you care?
goldensmom
3-10-17, 7:30am
You should not say any sentence that starts with "you should."
….and speaking of smiling….last night I tried something while out and about. Without saying a word, I smiled at several people. They responded by smiling back at me. Lifted my spirit and I hope it lifted their spirit as well. Try it you should*, it may lift your spirit as well.
*Yoda speak
But why do you care?
Still finding that space between if this is that I care about what someone thinks of me or if it is that I choose to not let things go by while ignoring them. I don't say things when I am bothered because I am necessarily trying to change someone else's mind or that I care too much about what they thing, but I am here, I am visible, and I get as much voice in the conversation as anyone else.
On a side note I am sick of people not saying anything, a lot of time because they do not have the skills to make simple comments. My mom was with my dad's brother and family. All really big conservative people, they knew that. My parents are pretty darn liberal and have been forever, raised us with a very socially liberal worldview. When they saw them last my uncle said something like 'guess we showed all those democrats,' and went on to make jokes about liberals. My parents just smiled. Why the fudge do we not have the social skills to simply say something, anything, that does not cause a fight or a reason to be the 'correct' one, but just says 'hey I am liberal, I am a democrat, so that may affect what you say right now'.
….and speaking of smiling….last night I tried something while out and about. Without saying a word, I smiled at several people. They responded by smiling back at me. Lifted my spirit and I hope it lifted their spirit as well. Try it you should*, it may lift your spirit as well.
*Yoda speak
I've tried that. It seems to make a lot of people nervous. My wife says I have the wrong sort of face for cheerfulness.
goldensmom
3-10-17, 12:44pm
I've tried that. It seems to make a lot of people nervous. My wife says I have the wrong sort of face for cheerfulness.
I haven’t thought of this in a long time but my father used to say that if you smile all the time people will think you are up to something. Thanks for prompting the memory.
ApatheticNoMore
3-10-17, 1:11pm
Even if it was a patriarchal power play, it is essentially harmless in the physical sense. The price we pay for living in a fairly free and open society is that people will say dumb sh*t to us and about us.
although i very much doubt it was what the day without women strike was about it, the smile thing does seem making a big deal out of nothing pretty much.
some women perceive it as sexist I guess, but since I never did I doubt that's universal, or do we all need to be consciousness-raised ahem indoctrinated to see it that way? (I didn't say it's not *annoying*!). I would have thought if anyone would see it as particularly offensive it would be clinically depressed people (as in: "listen idiot, I'm clinically depressed, it's a psycho-socio-biological disease okay, so don't tell me to just smile")
Smiling or being smiled at releases endorphins in your body that make you happier. If you can smile with your whole face, (as if you really mean it), then it is more beneficial. If you are depressed, then you are supposed to smile to help lift your mood.
Ultralight
3-10-17, 7:16pm
I've tried that. It seems to make a lot of people nervous. My wife says I have the wrong sort of face for cheerfulness.
Dude! I am right there with you. A friend told me this in high school: "When you smile, your face looks like you're brandishing a weapon."
My nickname in high school was "Scary Jake."
Dude! I am right there with you. A friend told me this in high school: "When you smile, your face looks like you're brandishing a weapon."
My nickname in high school was "Scary Jake."
Didn't Mad Magazine used to have a feature called "you know you're in trouble when they smile at you"?
Isn't the forced smile similar to "bless your heart" said so nicely by Southern women to dismiss your foolishness ?
freshstart
3-14-17, 5:02pm
I've aged out, so I'm not a target any more.
I've never been one to walk around grinning like a chimp, so I used to get that a lot. Always from men. I highly doubt that you, or any other man, is regularly told by strangers to alter your expression for their satisfaction.
or complaints of resting bitch face would not be a thing
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