How LOLAs Celebrated Women’s Day All Around the Globe
In March, LOLA broke the record in reaching new women around the world! Over 650 women took part in LOLA social chapters’ events, trainings, and activities in celebration of International Women’s Day. Though we are spread out across the globe, we remained united in our efforts for IWD to show people that free markets empower women, not socialism.
LOLA Mexico City, Mexico
LOLA Mexico held the Women’s Day event featuring prominent voices of libertarian feminism such as Gloria Alvarez, María Blanco, María Marty, and Roxana Nicua. The speakers addressed the main issues of radical feminism and discussed how it can become a political and collectivist element by focusing only on women as a group while ignoring individuality. They provided practical examples and actions that women can take to control their bodies, decisions, jobs, and lives from a libertarian perspective that respects the life, body, and liberty of each person.
LOLA Cordoba, Argentina
LOLAs from Cordoba proudly participated in the Women’s Day march in which socialist feminists take part every year. Their chapter made a bold statement by holding up LOLAs posters and classical liberal slogans that advance libertarian ideas and highlight the importance of individual liberty.
LOLA Brazil
Brazilian LOLAs gathered in the city of Natal for an intimate lunch to celebrate International Women’s Day and discuss the current challenges that women face in their region and libertarian solutions to these problems. They also strategized the next steps for their chapter.
Another LOLA Brazil IWD event took place in the LOLA Paraná Chapter, where the group combated against violence towards women by attending a self-defense class together.
LOLA Kathmandu, Nepal
In western Nepal, girls and women practice a tradition called Chhaupadi Pratha during menstruation. They are secluded in cow sheds or a place called chhau goth for 13 days during their first period and for 5-7 days each month thereafter. This tradition is believed to be religiously mandated by Nepalese people, who consider women on their period to be impure and unable to perform daily activities. Failure to follow the rules is believed to anger the Hindu Gods and bring curses upon the family, often causing the elders to shake, tremble, and shout. Breaking the rules is also blamed for misfortunes like snakes coming near the house or relatives becoming ill.
“During the event, a victim of ‘Chhaupadi Pratha’ shared her experience and asked for help from the LOLA Nepal team to educate her hometown in Accham, Nepal about the need to abolish this harmful practice.”
— Ichchha Khatiwada, LOLA Nepal leader
LOLA Nepal Women’s Day event worked to show that women, especially younger generations, should not be exposed to such harmful superstitions. Nepali leaders empowered girls by highlighting that women’s individual freedom includes the right to take care of their physical health, and not to be secluded or condemned for their femininity.
LOLA Guatemala City, Guatemala
Guatemalan LOLAs took part in the March 8th Parade and Festival in Guatemala City. They worked to show the public the importance of peaceful marches for the cause of liberty instead of engaging or promoting marches that result in destruction and damage to private property.
“This was our way of demonstrating our support for the commemoration of this day and our discontent with the many challenges that our country still faces. We believe that Guatemalan women should have equality before the law, which would provide them with justice and freedom. Our vision is that women should have freedom and equality before the law in a world that recognizes their rights. We acknowledge the progress that has been made in our country, but we also understand that there is still work to be done in the justice system and in respect for women’s rights in Guatemala.” says Dania Vanessa Verbena, LOLA Guatemala leader.
LOLA Mendoza, Argentina
On March 8th, LOLAs from Mendoza choose to celebrate women’s liberty and overcoming adversities on an individual/private level on a day that is traditionally celebrated by the left in Argentina. They hosted two discussions of successful women who shared their life experiences and how they overcame adversities. Mercedes — a liberal deputy of Mendoza, a mother of two, and a member of a predominantly male party — and Selva — an elderly woman who has been working since the age of 11 when her mother passed away. Selva shared how she has learned to manage her own life and also the lives of her siblings through trials and adversities. At 75 years old, she is now a mother of 5 and takes care of her granddaughter with a disability.
“Both speeches were incredibly interesting and inspiring, emphasizing the importance of empowering ourselves and not letting anyone tell us what to do.” says Valentina Zenocrati, LOLA Mendoza Leader.