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8 March is International Women’s Day, formerly known as International Working Women’s Day. On 8-M we commemorate women’s struggles for participation in society and to achieve equality with men.
Firstly, it’s worth mentioning that due to its origin related to tragic events, this date is used to raise awareness of gender inequality and demand equal rights for women in various areas and spheres of society.
This commemoration originated on 8 March 1875, when a group of women working at a New York textile factory demonstrated to protest against the unequal pay compared to the men who worked with them. The police responded to these protests with brutal repression and 120 working women were killed.
Thus, Women’s Day dates back to the 19th century labour movement and was subsequently recognised by the United Nations as a day for the defence of women’s rights and social and labour equality; a day to reflect on how women’s struggles have progressed, without forgetting that the fight must continue.
Before the events of 8 March 1875, Americans Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott brought together hundreds of people at the first national women’s rights convention in August 1848. Both argued that “all men and women are created equal” and demanded civil, social, political and religious rights for women and men.
As a result, they were ridiculed, especially when it came to women’s suffrage, but they planted a seed that flourished in the years that followed, which has been highlighted by the UN in special reports on women’s activism over the years.
In addition to the right to vote and to hold public office, they called for women’s rights to work, vocational training and non-discrimination in the workplace.
However, in its early days, “the commemoration (also) serves as a protest against World War I,” the UN notes. And therein lies one of the keys to why the date of 8 March was eventually chosen.
Without a doubt, history is full of women who managed to change history and inspire many other women. Today, on the Record go blog, we are going to remember the achievements of women who have been part of the history of motor racing, motoring and automobiles.
For example, Emilia Pardo Bazán, an important writer of late 19th century literary realism, also played a role, albeit circumstantially, in the history of the automobile. Aside from her excellent literary work, she is also known as the first Spanish woman to drive a car. So, the Galician writer wrote a chronicle in which she spoke of her driving and her love of speed, which also served to defend her personal freedom and to challenge the condition of being at the mercy of an intolerant and oppressive society.
Emilia Pardo Bazán was a pioneer in ideas about women’s rights and feminism, she considered women’s education to be a fundamental issue and dedicated a large part of her public speeches to defending it.
These are a few examples of the many women in the automotive industry, just as in any other industry.
We must stress that gender equality allows women and men to receive the same opportunities, conditions and treatment without losing sight of individual traits that allow and guarantee their rights as citizens.
On top of being a fundamental human right, gender equality is essential for a peaceful society, fostering human potential and enabling sustainable development. Moreover, women’s empowerment has been shown to stimulate productivity and economic growth.
At Record go, we are a great team with 50% women and 50% men.
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