By Abby Kozal, Culture Editor
Joel Grimsley passes out flowers and flyers – Photo by Zoebelle Bean
Every year, International Women’s Day is celebrated on Mar. 8. Due to spring break, Aquinas held its own celebrations on Mar. 6.
The holiday celebrates the achievements of women and highlights the struggles for economic, social, and reproductive rights women face in the fight for gender equality. The day is globally celebrated as a result of the women’s rights movement.
Together, the Jane Hibbard Idema Women’s & Gender Studies Center, the Multicultural Club and the Office of International Programs worked to commemorate the holiday. The groups passed out flowers around campus to acknowledge the fight for women’s rights.
Various tables were set up around campus, including inside Wege, where students could come and take a flower. Flyers with encouraging quotes were also distributed and shared on various Aquinas social media pages.
“It’s amazing how the seemingly simple act of passing out flowers made people’s day,” Hannah Bechtold, Director of International Programs, said. “The surprise, the excitement, the joy of being able to pick a flower, the opportunity to connect — I think we need more of these moments today. I’m glad our International Women’s Day celebration can provide that.”
Mar. 8 is not the only day to celebrate the women in your life. Women’s History Month is celebrated throughout the entirety of March.
As a part of the celebration, Aquinas also invited community liaison Margaret Idema, daughter of Jane Hibbard Idema, to campus as this month’s HerStory speaker. Idema shared her mother’s story and her own story in a lunchtime talk at the Moose to celebrate the beginning of Women’s History Month.
In closing notes for the event, Bechtold shared how other cultures honor the day. Only 28 countries recognize International Women’s Day as an official holiday, but many others engage in protests or other celebrations for equal rights.
“At a time when women’s rights are under attack in the U.S., these international instances of public engagement and citizen action can be important models for women in our country,” said Dr. Amy Dunham Strand, Director of the Jane Hibbard Idema Women’s & Gender Studies Center.
Bechtold told the community in her closing address that, “We recognize that this is a small gesture that does little to fight for change or raise awareness about gender disparities, but I know I, and in talking with Amy, we decided to really focus on celebrating women this year. As so many are feeling so much fear and uncertainty under the current administration, we wanted to focus on the positive – not in a toxic positivity kind of way, but in a way that inspires connection and encouragement to keep fighting for a more just society.”
Flower and International Women’s Day flyers passed out to community – Photo by Zoebelle Bean
The Saint 