Here’s how the world internationally marked just one of this year’s 365 women’s days.
- Five million join first feminist strike in Spain
More than 5 million join Spain's feminist strike #8deMarzoHuelgaFeminista https://t.co/4AJPWrdfCr pic.twitter.com/g87UHTCE74
— 15MBcn_int (@15MBcn_int) March 8, 2018
According to the Spanish Workers’ Commissions and the Workers’ General Union, 5.3 million people participated in two-hour walkouts, to highlight sexual discrimination, domestic violence and wage gap.
Spanish health, social services and equality minister, Dolors Montserrat, described the strike as “a social revolution for men and women”.
- McDonald’s in Lynwood California, turns iconic golden-arches upside down
McDonald's is flipping its arches for the first time to celebrate #InternationalWomensDay with a W https://t.co/dzrdeYfxBY
— CNN (@CNN) March 7, 2018
And it’s not just in California that McDonald’s made the statement. The global brand flipped its iconic golden-arches for the first time on all digital platforms to celebrate women.
“In celebration of women everywhere, and for the first time in our brand history, we flipped our iconic arches for International Women’s Day in honour of the extraordinary accomplishments of women everywhere and especially in our restaurants,” McDonald’s global chief diversity officer, Wendy Lewis, revealed in a statement.
- Triple J brings ‘Girls to the Front’ with 24hrs of female-identifying artists, music programmers, and presenters.
Come celebrate #InternationalWomensDay with us, we're bringing #GirlsToTheFront all day from the music to the presenters 👊 pic.twitter.com/hk4aQF9XP3
— triple j (@triplej) March 7, 2018
For the fourth year running, Triple J played only female artists, scheduled by female music programmers, and delivered to you by female presenters.
Gemma Pike, assistant music director at Triple J and Girls to the Front programmer explained,“It’s amazing that something so simple can instil such a sense of power and positivity. It’s great that at any time of the day a young girl can turn on the radio and be inspired by women just like her. Basically it’s a big warm fuzzy.”
- Energy Australia ended the gender pay gap overnight
(1/2) Today, we announced that we will take the next step towards closing the gender pay gap. From April, EnergyAustralia will close its 2 percent gender pay gap by investing $1.2 million into…
— EnergyAustralia (@EnergyAustralia) March 8, 2018
Energy Australia spent $1.2 million to equalise the pay packets of 350 female employees who were being paid less than their male counterparts. The company also promised a five-year review to ensure the gap wasn’t re-opened.
Managing Director, Catherine Tanna said, “I am really pleased that we’re able to say this year, 2018, at Energy Australia, we’re bridging that gap… But I’m sorry that it’s taken so long and that our women at Energy Australia have had to wait for this day.”
- Indian South Central Railway deployed all women teams to three stations
#Mumbai: On the occasion of #InternationalWomensDay, Indian Railways deployed all women ticket checking staff on Mumbai Central- Ahmedabad Shatabdi Express. Visuals from Mumbai Central Railway Station. pic.twitter.com/drsEE4G1MU
— Mumbai Mirror (@MumbaiMirror) March 8, 2018
Three Indian South Central Railway (SRC) stations were fully-managed by women for the day, promoting women in the industry.
Chief public relations officer M Umashankar Kumar said, “Along with Chandragiri railway station, Begumpet, which is one of the busiest suburban stations in Hyderbalk city and Phirangipuram station in Guntur division are also set to become all-women stations from March 8, which is ‘International Women’s Day’.”
- New York City’s ‘Fearless Girl’ draped in a cape of purple flowers
Fearless Girl and NYC’s statues of women are decked out in flowers today: https://t.co/6uen4YuemM pic.twitter.com/cctGbAC4L0
— Time Out New York (@TimeOutNewYork) March 8, 2018
A year on from its installation, Wall Street’s “Fearless Girl” was given a cape of purple flowers courtesy of retailer Old Navy.
Only intended as a temporary fixture, the statue has stayed put opposite the iconic ‘Charging Bull’. With city officials discussing whether she should remain indefinitely, statue creator Kristen Visbal said, “I really feel that this placement of ‘Fearless Girl’ in front of ‘Raging Bull’ is a historical moment.” She should stay where she is.”