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In Soviet Union it was called "International Women's Day". I can't recall, but I don't think it was a public holiday. Anyway, that was the day when you could se

by Evgeny 16y ago

In Soviet Union it was called "International Women's Day". I can't recall, but I don't think it was a public holiday. Anyway, that was the day when you could see a huge amount of men buying flowers for their wifes, mothers, and other women they love :) Only when I emigrated I found out that it's not so international as I thought it is. The wikipedia page http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Women%27s_Day http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Women%27s_Day lists all the countries where this day is an official holiday, and it's a bit funny. There's Russia and most of former USSR members, there are some USSR "satellites" or best friends, and also some African countries.

colkassad 16y ago
I remember being confused by International Women's Day when I first moved to Latvia -- I had never heard of it. I was quickly educated though when I showed up to the office without any flowers or candy for the ladies!
rdtsc 16y ago
I remember having a conversation with some friends related to the benefits of having a Women's day vs just Mothers' day (as they do in US). I prefered Women's day as Mothers' presumes that unless a woman is a mother, she doesn't deserve to be celebrated. Of course I don't see a reason not to have both. If we are talking about "fairness" the next question is "What about Men's day?" In ex Soviet Union there was Army Day (February the 23rd). Since all men had to serve in the Army that day became the de facto "Men's Day". As service in the Army became volunatry (at least in the country I am from), people just started celebrating that day as Men's Day and disassosiated it from the "army" completely.
- bokonist 16y ago
  I prefered Women's day as Mothers' presumes that unless a woman is a mother, she doesn't deserve to be celebrated. If a woman works she is celebrated via labor day. If she fights she is celebrated via veterans day. If a woman neither works nor fights nor is a mother, why exactly does she deserve to be celebrated? (the same applies to men too).
  - rdtsc 16y ago
    Because throughout history and even today their rights and voices are suppressed. Even in America they couldn't vote up until 1920s. It seems as long as there is memory of that oppression, and as long as there are still glass ceilings, or places in the world were women are still oppressed because of their geneder it is worth celebrating this day. > why exactly does she deserve to be celebrated? Well we didn't need much reason beyond their gender to oppress them all those years (and still do) so it seems we can at least acknowledge their struggle and suffering if nothing else. Or are you worried about reverse discrimination? "Can't celebrate too much now, they'll get cocky and we'll have to set them in their place again"

by Evgeny 16y ago

colkassad 16y ago

I remember being confused by International Women's Day when I first moved to Latvia -- I had never heard of it. I was quickly educated though when I showed up to the office without any flowers or candy for the ladies!

rdtsc 16y ago

I remember having a conversation with some friends related to the benefits of having a Women's day vs just Mothers' day (as they do in US). I prefered Women's day as Mothers' presumes that unless a woman is a mother, she doesn't deserve to be celebrated. Of course I don't see a reason not to have both. If we are talking about "fairness" the next question is "What about Men's day?" In ex Soviet Union there was Army Day (February the 23rd). Since all men had to serve in the Army that day became the de facto "Men's Day". As service in the Army became volunatry (at least in the country I am from), people just started celebrating that day as Men's Day and disassosiated it from the "army" completely.

bokonist 16y ago
I prefered Women's day as Mothers' presumes that unless a woman is a mother, she doesn't deserve to be celebrated. If a woman works she is celebrated via labor day. If she fights she is celebrated via veterans day. If a woman neither works nor fights nor is a mother, why exactly does she deserve to be celebrated? (the same applies to men too).
- rdtsc 16y ago
  Because throughout history and even today their rights and voices are suppressed. Even in America they couldn't vote up until 1920s. It seems as long as there is memory of that oppression, and as long as there are still glass ceilings, or places in the world were women are still oppressed because of their geneder it is worth celebrating this day. > why exactly does she deserve to be celebrated? Well we didn't need much reason beyond their gender to oppress them all those years (and still do) so it seems we can at least acknowledge their struggle and suffering if nothing else. Or are you worried about reverse discrimination? "Can't celebrate too much now, they'll get cocky and we'll have to set them in their place again"