International Women's Day 2024: Understanding the 'Day Without a Woman' Strike

March 8th is International Women's Day. But this year, it's also "A Day Without A Woman." Orchestrated by the organization behind the Women's March, this event calls on women around the world to go on strike. Quite literally, the organizers are asking you to not go into work/do work of any kind — both paid and unpaid.

The idea is to symbolically remove women from the workforce to show what a giant impact their contributions make each and every day.

While many are happy that the Women's March Movement is continuing its work and has a solid momentum, others are feeling as though the #DayWithoutAWoman doesn't acknowledge the realities of working women. (This was also a criticism of the Day Without Immigrants.)

Specifically — what about women who are mothers and caretakers, people who are literally responsible for others' lives?

Meanwhile, some feel that a Woman's Strike comes from a place of privilege — that it is feasible only for people lucky enough to have paid time off, or who can get by without their day's wages.

The event, however, has made some attempt to allow people to participate, at least partially, asking women to wear red in solidarity. Women for Justice is also hoping to get a "virtual strike" off the ground, offering women a way to participate online and via social media.

So, despite some of the Strike's criticisms, the question is — will this actually make a difference? The event was actually inspired by a similar strike in Iceland in 1975. Of that strike 42 years ago, the BBC reports that, "Things went back to normal the next day, but with the knowledge that women are as well as men the pillars of society...So many companies and institutions came to a halt and it showed the force and necessity of women—it completely changed the way of thinking."

Thoughts? Is #DayWithoutAWoman excluding to some? Is it a great step forward? Will it effect change?