This Wednesday, March 8, women have taken to the streets in different parts of the country to celebrate International Women’s Day and claim their rights. In Madrid, the day was marked by the split in the feminist movement which has led to two different marches: one convened by the Madrid Feminist Movement and another by the 8M Commission. The main points of disagreement have to do with the abolition of prostitution, the ‘trans law’ and the ‘law of only yes is yes’. Despite the differences, feminism has shown its strength in the streetswhich have been stained purple.
Because the diversity of messages and demands has had a common denominator: the fight for women’s rights. Different faces of politics have attended the marches, such as the Minister of Equality, Irene Montero, as well as culture and other spheres. But the bulk of the muscle has been formed by thousands of women who have shared their protests and demands. The so-called ‘purple tide’ has once again flooded the Spanish cities of songs, posters, stories and lots of emotion by the protesters.
Women who have suffered abuse share their harsh experiences
There are tens of thousands of people who have participated in the demonstrations called throughout Spain on the occasion of March 8. And among them, many women who have wanted to stand up for equality further revealing his own experiences with machismo.
Among the protesters that the Yasss team present at the Madrid marches has been able to interview, examples of all kinds have been found. The denunciation of machismo and micromachismo has been a constant in the responses to the microphones of this portal. “This is something of every day, things happen every day, even if we don’t realize it”pointed out one of the attendees.
But, in addition, there are several women who have revealed very hard personal experiences. Between them, some young women who have experienced firsthand the harshest face of machismo: mistreatment. Physical and psychological abuse, legal proceedings or toxic relationships are some of the consequences of machismo that have been revealed to this website.
“I’ve had experience with abusive couples, I think I have to be here for myself and for all those who can’t be there,” replied a girl. “They beat me up a lot, I ended up in the hospital, and today I have been reborn”confessed another of the assistants.
These have been some of the mottos of 8M
The banners have been a constant in the long marches that have been held throughout the Spanish geography. Between them, diversity of slogans, but omnipresence of the forceful denunciation of the lack of equality still current. In the demonstrations called in Madrid, which the Yasss team has been able to witness, there has been a lot of variety and creativity in the messages.
It has had special strength in the signs that the protesters raised the memory of women who died from gender violence (There are already ten cases so far in 2023). “Excuse me, they are killing us” or “For all those who can no longer scream”, it has been possible to read.
References to respect for women’s bodies have been another of the most repeated proclamations: “This body is mine, it is not touched, it is not raped, it is not killed”, summarized the banner of one of the attendees. The question of prostitution has also had a place among the messages of the protesters: “They are not ‘clients’, they are rapists,” read another sign. Quotes from feminists or even familiar faces have also been seen on some posters: “As Taylor Swift said: ‘Fuck the patriarchy’.”
Education, key to remedy machismo
But there have not only been protests and complaints among the voices that have been raised during today’s day. Another point in common, according to the testimonies collected, has to do with possible solutions to solve the problem.
There have been several women who have pointed to the importance of education and teaching in equality, as a key complement to legislative work. “It is the only way to change the future”, mentioned one of the interviewees.
