Really large scale strikes are more about delivering a single, strong message than the protesting equivalent of a siege.

Yes, to everything you have said in this thread.

It’s not just about “not doing” what we do everyday. It’s about using that time to focus on women’s issues. So if a SAHM tells her spouse he needs to take the day off so she can write letters and volunteer and protest and call her reps, that sounds very valuable to me.

You and I disagree about the fundamental purpose of the demonstration. You latched on to two words out of the entire event description— self-care — and overlooked absolutely everything else. This isn’t meant to be a national mani/pedi day.

Go to work and acknowledge the challenges you face without your female colleagues. Did a deal take longer to get done? Were you covering for 8 nurses at your hospital? Did you simply have no one to gossip with? ACKNOWLEDGE the importance of women in the workplace, how much more difficult it was for you to do your…

I’m finding it interesting that so many of the responses to the strike here are centered on feelings of obligations to others: to the people we serve in our workplaces, to our families, to other women. This seems, to me, to be a very female response. I’m curious whether men would have the same sense of obligation to…

This is going to sound awful and callous, and I swear I’m NOT advocating that innocents are harmed to make a point. However...

Because if half of the country’s workforce just doesn’t show up to work for a day, that shit costs money.

Yup.... So you can decide what you want to do with the day. If you really think your kid’s school will be canceled, book a sitter now. Or plan a back-up playdate at someone else’s house (split the day— you’ll take them in the AM, they’ll take them in the PM). Or decide how to incorporate your child in your day of…

I don’t think feeding yourself is women’s work. But making it a point to your husband, if you’re married, that he will be responsible for all child care, all cooking, all clean up.

My plan is to tell my employer that I am required to watch my children on 3/8 since my wife will be unavailable, as will my mother-in-law and sister-in-law. No childcare available but me.

that’s part of it. it’s not just a day to lay in the sun and hold a sign. there is sacrifice in striking. and that’s fine.

you might be taking care of your kid at home, but it’ll have a huge impact if all the female teachers strike.

You may have to make lunch at home, but a female is probably making or serving your…

This possibility sucks, but protests are meant to be disruptive. If the point is to show that women are vital to the economy and that the absence of women would result in huge consequences that ripple beyond their local place of employment, then a school cancellation demonstrates it very well.

Its true, there are some categories of workers for whom striking is not feasible in the traditional sense. But you can still symbolically strike by refusing to participate in the economy - don’t buy gas or groceries, don’t go out to the movies - or participate in unpaid women’s work - do not cook meals. You could also…

IN your case, I’d say go to work and set people straight when they try to roll their eyes and say it’s stupid. (sounds like you work will all men who are not feminist/allies?)

Perhaps one way to be a good ally would be to set aside time on March 8 to reflect on all the ways that you see women work—-paid or unpaid, and especially emotional/affective labor—-and how you can help break down traditional gendered labor roles.

In 1975 90% of Icelandic women went on strike to highlight the importance of “women’s work” both professionally and domestically - including not doing chores, laundry, cooking etc.

Close the office and give everyone the day off.

In Ireland women are striking on March 8th too, but for us it’s in protest that the government hasn’t yet called for a referendum on the repeal of the 8th amendment to the constitution - basically, that abortion is illegal here, and we want it to be legal, or at least be able to vote on its legality.

I’m def one of the people who will be working, I just started a new low-wage job. I plan on participating by removing myself from the economy, no gas, no snacks, no lunch out etc. I really hope this is an impressive strike!