International Women’s Day China 2024 👧🏻 What’s It All About?

International Women’s Day China 👩🏻2024 What’s the Deal?

“Who runs the world? Girls!”

International Women’s Day is celebrated around the world every year on March 8th.

This is the time to recognize the incredible achievements, resilience, and boundless potential of women across the globe.

And International Women’s Day is just as big of a deal in China.

After all, as the famous quote goes:

妇女能顶半边天 || Fùnǚ néng dǐng bànbiāntiān || Women hold up half the sky

So, let’s waste no more time and dive into the history of Women’s Day in China, how it’s celebrated today, useful Chinese phrases and more!

Women’s Day China || From Past to Present

Women’s Day China || Women’s Day or Girl’s Day?

Women’s Day China || Sheconomics 

Women’s Day China || Useful Phrases 

Women’s Day China || From Past to Present

The first Women’s Day was organized by the Socialist Party of America on February 28, 1909 in New York City.

After women got the right to vote in Soviet Russia in 1917, March 8 became a national holiday there.

Afterwards, this date was celebrated all over the world and was later adopted by the United Nations as an official holiday.

In 1949 the People’s Republic of China declared March 8 an official holiday and in 1954 declared in the constitution that men and women were equal.

This was huge progress for Chinese women who in ancient China suffered practices such as footbinding and could be bought and sold as concubines.

And although in other countries women generally hold marches and protests…

For some, Women’s Day China has turned into a type of a second Valentine’s Day with special prices and discounts for women. On this day Chinese men usually buy flowers and presents for their wives, daughters, mothers, and the important women in their lives.

It’s also now common practice for online giants such as Taobao to offer special Women’s Day deals – usually on makeup, self-care products and clothing. Venues such as bars and beauty parlours may also offer women discounts around this day.

👉 That’s not to say everything is all sunshine and rainbows for women in China. Many still face workplace and societal discrimination and terms such as 剩女 shèngnǚ, meaning ‘leftover woman‘ (aka, unmarried women over the age of 28) still prevail.

But on a lighter note, female employees in China usually at least receive a small gift and half a day off on International Women’s Day!

The 9 Most Famous Women from Chinese History

There have been some real badass famous Chinese women over the years. Here we’re going to have a look at the ultimate top 9 that you should know!

International Women’s Day? Or Girls’ Day?

Since 妇女 fùnǚ in Chinese is mostly used to signify an elderly or married woman, a new festival Girl’s Day (女生节) was created.

This way unmarried and single girls also get the opportunity to be treated as “queens” and many universities and colleges organize special events on this day, which is celebrated on March 7 every year.

Equally, a lot of retailers are trying to combat the negative connotations of 妇女 (which is often associated with traditional gender roles) by referring to International Women’s Day with a new name:

女神节 (Nǚshénjié), which actually means ‘Goddess Day’

Women’s Day China || Sheconomics

“Sheconomics” or “she economy” is a new term coined by China’s Education Ministry to signify women’s growing purchasing power.

Since women have more and more purchasing power and capital, enterprises and companies are turning and catering to women as new consumers.

International Women’s Day in China is no exception, when there are many special discounts and promotions for women.

Many point to the trivialization and commercialization of this day in China.

While other countries usually organize marches and protests, China is focused more on gifts and spending money.

Understandably, women may be less than impressed when their global achievements in gender equality are rewarded with lipstick discounts 🙄

As mentioned above, some women also take issue with the Chinese name for International Women’s Day. The characters include 妇女 fùnǚ, which is often associated with older married women and traditional gender roles.

However, throughout Chinese history, there have been some pretty badass famous Chinese women. Just look at the picture of Qiu Jin above!

She was a famous revolutionary and feminist. One of her poems starts with the verses: “Don’t tell me women / are not the stuff of heroes”

Women’s Day China || Useful phrases

Here are some useful phrases for International Women’s Day, which in Chinese:

• Women’s day (妇女节; fùnǚ jié)
• Happy Women’s Day (妇女节快乐; fùnǚ jié Kuàilè)
• Work-life balance (工作与生活的平衡; gōngzuò yǔ shēnghuó de pínghéng)
• The Struggle Continues (斗争还在继续; dòuzhēng hái zài jìxù)
• Smash Patriarchy (打倒父权制; dǎdǎo fùquánzhì)
• Last but not least, 三八节(Sānbājié) is another way to say International Women’s Day as it falls on March 8th

Women’s Day China || FAQ’s

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