International Working Women's Day - Happy Anniversary!

Did you know that two days ago on March 8th marked the 100th anniversary of the International Working Women's Day?  I had no idea this day even existed!!  I heard this on the radio on the way to work Tuesday and thought of all of you.  So happy anniverary! 

The movement started in 1909 when a group of garment workers in New York went on strike because of the inhumane sweatshop conditions.  In the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory, five hundred women bent over sewing machines churning out tailored shirts with poor lighting, long hours, and low wages.  They were paid per garment and even the fastest seamstresses could barely bring home 4 dollars a week in a 6 or 7 day work week.  Their male bosses watched over their shoulders, timed their restroom breaks and hung up signs that read, "If you don't come in on Sunday, don't come in on Monday." 

On March 25, 1911, this factory became the catalyst for change after 146 women died tragically from a sudden fire that broke out on the top three floors.  It was an avoidable tragedy that helped raise awareness for the need for labor unions and safety regulations.  It also sealed this day in history as the beginning of the International Working Women's Day. 

Now my week doesn't seem so bad.  I was going to complain about my week and how unusually long, annoyingly cold, and uncharacteristically boring it has been, but I think I'll hold back.  Or rather, I think I would rather reflect on the extraordinary women who helped create better rights, equality, and conditions for women all over the world. 

I was also going to complain about my experience with the YMCA after school care worker.  Today, I picked up my son five minutes late.  It's a dollar a minute when you're late.  He was the only one left and I was running in heels trying to get him before the clock hit 6:06.  "Sorry I'm late, I panted as I ran into the cafeteria."  Poor Tyler was sitting their patiently and alone, waiting, and I felt like a horrible mom.  And I replied again, "Sorry, the traffic... and I had a meeting that went long." 

But the woman in charge, whom I'm not overly fond of, just handed me my late fee and smartly replied, "When you're going to be late, you could just call us to let us know..."  I wanted to retort that if she was one tenth as busy as I  was and could hold down a real job that required more of a skillset than clutching a clipboard, she could voice her opinion then.  But, I didn't.  I bit my tongue, smiled and signed the receipt.  She also gave me a YMCA comment form where we could describe our experience with the program and its needs for improvement, so sweet justice!! I'll put that comment form to good use. 

I was going to complain about this, but I think I'll hold back.  It seems oddly trivial when you backdrop it to the struggles women have had over the past one hundred years.  I'm not sweating profusely over a sewing machine with a male chovinist overbearing boss telling me when I can and cannot pee.  So, I think I should refrain from complaining about the persnickety part time worker at my son's school.

I'm proud to celebrate this anniversary with you all and want to congratulate you on being a part of a great movement.  Look how far we have come!  I had no idea just how far it actually is, and I look forward to what we can accomplish in the next one hundred years!!