"In 2023, the end of the patriarchy!"
Thousands of people demonstrated on Wednesday March 8 in Paris, for International Women's Rights Day.
A mobilization strongly influenced by the challenge of the pension reform project, without eclipsing other fights for equality and social justice.
"It was the perfect opportunity to call for equality at work and in life", explains Caroline, 33, a member of the Solidaires union, on the initiative, with the FSU and the CGT, of this "feminist strike ".
"We are on the streets to say no to pension reform and denounce economic inequalities between men and women, but also to put an end to gender-based and sexual violence, defend the right to abortion or even support women around the world. entire,” she continued.
"Because all these fights are linked. In the end, it's about defending the rights of half the population."
“This reform affects us first and foremost”
The procession, mostly female, set off in the rain, shortly after 2 p.m., from Place de la République towards Place de la Nation.
“Even the rain is sexist!” shouts a young woman with a megaphone.
Among the demonstrators, some have already beaten the pavement on March 7, the sixth day of the inter-union strike, with the "historic" participation, according to the unions, against the pension reform.
Among them, Jasmine, 66 years old.
This former worker came from Burgundy to make her voice heard.
"I was there yesterday, I'm here today, and I'll still be here as long as it takes," she says.
"But demonstrating today, symbolically, is almost even more important because this reform affects us, us women, as a priority."
"With my retirement, I only earn 824 euros per month. Once the charges have been paid, I have 27 euros left to live on... After spending my life in the factory, I now have to do housework to make ends meet. months," she says.
"And we would like to make the situation of those who will follow me even worse?"
"This reform is the very symbol of all the inequalities that women experience on a daily basis", abounds, a few meters further, Chantal, 63 years old.
This civil servant also demonstrated during previous days of mobilization, but she particularly wanted to be present for this day of March 8.
"This time, I am fighting for much more than my retirement. I am here for all our social rights – our wages, our health, the right to abortion… Women's rights are still very fragile, too fragile."
In his hand, his sign illustrates his commitment.
On the front is a quote from Gisèle Halimi, a figure of feminism: "Anything that advances women advances society".
On the back are pasted slogans against the pension reform – "We will not retreat", "Retirement before arthritis"...
Chantal demonstrates in Paris, March 8, 2023, on the occasion of International Women's Rights Day.
© Cyrielle Cabot, France 24
The day before, on March 7, Chantal had participated in the vast mobilization against the pension reform.
His sign bears his two demands, for women's rights and protest against the government's project.
© Cyrielle Cabot, France 24
"Hey girl, do you know? You're going to get screwed"
Since the beginning of the mobilizations, women have been presented as the big losers in the pension reform project.
A finding that goes all the worse because at present, pension inequalities are already substantial: at the end of 2020, women had on average a pension 40% lower than that of men, a difference reduced to 28% in reversal case.
In question, careers often more complete than those of men, with more part-time and lower wages.
>> To read also: Pension reform: in Paris, revolted and determined demonstrators
Symbol of this inequality at work which will reverberate in retirement: at 3:40 p.m., from their tank, the Rosies, a feminist collective, take the floor.
Decked out in work overalls, they remind us that it is at this hour that, every day, women symbolically begin to "work for free".
Follows a song and a dance with well-rehearsed choreography: “Hey girl, do you know? You're going to get screwed. will leave later. Because the government only tells canards", sings the crowd, on the tune of the song Freed from Desire, from Gala.
Les Rosies, a feminist collective, sings songs against pension reform, during the demonstration for International Women's Rights Day, March 8, 2023. © Cyrielle Cabot, France 24
End "all forms of violence"
But alongside the many slogans linked to retirement and inequalities at work, others preferred to highlight other fights.
"Consent, everywhere, all the time", "Together against sexist and sexual violence", thus displays Vassilia Mattei.
This 30-year-old woman is project manager for HandsAway, an association that works to prevent gender-based and sexual violence in schools.
“We are here because we have to educate and raise awareness, all the time, every day, against all the violence and all the discrimination that women and gender minorities suffer,” she testifies.
“Taking into account all the categories – the racialized, the LGBT +, those with disabilities… Moreover, it is they, often forced into precarious and physical jobs, who will therefore be the first impacted by the pension reform ."
"We are here to fight for equality and claim the rights of all," she summarizes.
Camille, for her part, preferred to show her support for the Iranian women, almost six months after the death in detention of Mahsa Amini.
"I already demonstrated yesterday for pensions. Today, I wanted to remember that in the world, especially in Iran, women could die for taking to the streets as we are doing," says this 48-year-old teacher.
"Defending our rights is essential, but we must not forget the others: we must put an end to all forms of violence."
Camille, a teacher, came to show her support for Iranian women, during the demonstration for International Women's Rights Day, March 8, 2023 © Cyrielle Cabot, France 24
“Anyway, we have a lot of everything!”, exclaim at the end of the procession Tiffany and Raphaël.
"We have the impression of not being listened to by this government, and that we have to fight for everything."
These two friends explain for their part that they favored the day of March 8 to demonstrate for “the symbolic significance of the date” but came mainly to shout “their fed up” with government policy.
“I just wish he was kinder to people and to our planet rather than always favoring the wealthy and thinking about profit…” Tiffany explains.
In the Paris procession, Raphaël and Tiffany wanted to "scream their fed up" against government policy, Wednesday March 8.
© Cyrielle Cabot, France 24
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