International Women's Day: Inspiring Women and the Origin of March 8th

International Women's Day

March 8 is not just a date on the calendar. Above all, it is a moment that calls us to reflect on the struggle, resilience, and achievements of women. At M'Choices, we believe that our pieces are more than an accessory; they are a form of expression, a statement of confidence, and a symbol of our identity.

In this article, we celebrate International Women's Day by honoring figures who stood out in defending women's rights, their emancipation and equality, who broke barriers, and who continue to fight for a more just and egalitarian world.

The Meaning of March 8

Often celebrated with flowers and gifts, International Women's Day has deep roots in the labor struggle and the demand for dignity. The date did not arise from an isolated moment but from a succession of protests in the early 20th century, with particular emphasis on the great march of textile workers in New York in 1908, who took to the streets under the slogan "Bread and Roses." Bread symbolized economic stability, and roses represented quality of life. Officialized by the United Nations in 1975, this date reminds us that every right conquered today – from the right to vote to the freedom to undertake and manage our own image – was the result of the courage of women who decided that silence was no longer an option.

Often directly associated with March 8, the tragic fire at the Triangle Shirtwaist factory in New York actually occurred on March 25, 1911. This event was one of the darkest, but also most decisive, chapters in the feminist struggle: 146 workers – the vast majority young immigrant women – lost their lives because the factory doors were locked to prevent breaks and theft. The outrage that followed this tragedy not only boosted workplace safety laws but also united women in the demand for basic human rights. Today, we remember this moment to honor the memory of those who sacrificed everything for a future where women's work was respected and protected.

At M'Choices, every piece we create celebrates the freedom and security for which these women fought so hard. Wearing an accessory is an act of self-expression that is only possible today thanks to the courage of yesterday.

Women who inspire us

To celebrate International Women's Day, we evoke iconic figures who represent or represented female courage and talent in Portugal and worldwide:

Catarina Furtado: Presenter and UNFPA Goodwill Ambassador, her role is vital in advocating for sexual and reproductive rights and in fighting poverty and gender inequality globally.

Capicua: Rapper and lyricist who uses music as a tool for political and social intervention, being an active voice in modern feminism and ecological awareness in Portugal.

Inês Marinho: Founder of the "Não Partilhes" (Do Not Share) association, she plays a fundamental role in the fight against sexual violence and the non-consensual sharing of intimate content. Her work focuses on supporting victims and raising awareness about digital safety and dignity.

Maria Gil: Roma actress and activist, she plays a crucial role in the fight against the intersection of racism and sexism in Portugal. Through her art and voice, she focuses on defending the rights of Roma women, combating stereotypes and claiming their place in society.

Carolina Salgueiro Pereira: Founder of the #HeForShe movement in Portugal and an active voice in defending women's rights and the LGBTQI+ community. Her role is to mobilize all society for gender equality, removing social and political barriers.

Tânia Graça: Psychologist and sexologist with a strong public presence, her role is to democratize sex education and reproductive rights. With clarity and empathy, she helps deconstruct taboos and promote female empowerment through pleasure and body knowledge.

Francisca Magalhães Barros: Writer and activist, she has played a courageous role in denouncing flaws in the Portuguese judicial system and in defending victims of domestic violence and abuse. Through her writing and direct intervention, she gives voice to trauma and demands structural changes in how society and justice protect women, transforming her personal experience into a collective fight for dignity.

Odete Santos: A lawyer, as a communist deputy, she played an unparalleled role in drafting legislation that remains a legacy of the achievements of women workers and women in general, in their emancipatory struggle and for human dignity.

Natália Correia: Irreverent writer, poet, and deputy, she played a central role in the fight against censorship and in defending sexual freedom and women's rights in Parliament.

Maria Lamas: Writer and journalist who dedicated her life to studying and denouncing the harsh conditions of Portuguese women, becoming a prominent figure in the anti-fascist resistance.

Paula Rego: Painter who revolutionized contemporary art by placing the female experience at the center of her canvases, addressing themes such as abortion and violence with unprecedented courage.

Maria Teresa Horta: Writer and journalist, she was one of the voices most persecuted by the dictatorship for defending the freedom of the female body and desire in her poetry and prose.

Maria Isabel Barreno: Writer and researcher, co-author of "Novas Cartas Portuguesas" (New Portuguese Letters), her role was fundamental in the international denunciation of women's oppression in Portugal.

Maria Velho da Costa: Novelist and essayist, her literary talent was a weapon of freedom, helping to reconstruct cultural and female identity in post-April 25th Portugal.

Regina Quintanilha: She made history as the first Portuguese female lawyer, paving the way for women to practice legal professions and defend justice in the courts.

Adelaide Cabete: Doctor and pioneer of feminism, her role was essential in promoting maternal and child health and in founding the first organizations defending women's rights.

Ana de Castro Osório: Writer and feminist theorist, she is considered the main driving force of the suffragist movement in Portugal, focusing on education as a path to emancipation.

Carolina Beatriz Ângelo: Doctor and the first woman to vote in Portugal (in 1911), her act of legal audacity became the ultimate symbol of the fight for female suffrage.

Maria de Lourdes Pintasilgo: Engineer and the only woman to be Prime Minister in Portugal, her legacy focuses on political ethics, social justice, and female presence in high-level decision-making positions.

Frida Kahlo: Mexican painter who transformed pain into vibrant and symbolic art. Her role was to affirm female identity and indigenous culture, using her own image and exuberant jewelry as a form of political resistance and self-love affirmation.

Virginia Woolf: One of the most important writers of modernism, whose role was to revolutionize literary narrative and advocate for female independence. In her essay "A Room of One's Own", she argued that, to create, a woman needs financial autonomy and personal space - a lesson in emancipation that resonates to this day.

Marie Curie: Pioneer scientist in radioactivity, her role was to prove that academic excellence has no gender, becoming the first person to win two Nobel Prizes in different fields.

Emmeline Pankhurst: Leader of the British suffragette movement, her role was to mobilize thousands of women for direct action, ensuring that the right to vote became a global reality.

Simone de Beauvoir: Philosopher and writer, she laid the foundations of modern feminism with "The Second Sex," challenging women to define themselves outside of male-imposed expectations.

Rosa Parks: Civil rights activist, her role of peaceful resistance against racial segregation in the US initiated a historical change in the fight for equality and human dignity.

Simone Veil: Holocaust survivor and visionary politician, her role was decisive in legalizing abortion in France and in promoting human rights as President of the European Parliament.

Reading Suggestions

• "Novas Cartas Portuguesas" (New Portuguese Letters) (As Três Marias - The Three Marias): The book that shook the dictatorship and became an international symbol of female solidarity.

• "Mulheres do Meu País" (Women of My Country) (Maria Lamas): A monumental work portraying the real lives of Portuguese women from north to south in the 1940s.

• "O Segundo Sexo" (The Second Sex) (Simone de Beauvoir): The "bible" of modern feminism. Essential for understanding the construction of women's roles.

• "As Mulheres e a República" (Women and the Republic) (Ana de Castro Osório): For those who want to understand the origins of feminism in Portugal.

• "Cadernos de Ecologia e Feminismo" (Notebooks on Ecology and Feminism) (Capicua): An excellent way to get acquainted with the artist's contemporary thinking on these topics.

Film and Documentary Suggestions

• "As Cartas da Minha Mãe" (My Mother's Letters) (Documentary about Maria Lamas): A sensitive portrait of this activist's life.

• "Paula Rego, Histórias e Segredos" (Paula Rego, Stories and Secrets) (Documentary): Directed by the artist's son, Nick Willing, it offers an intimate look at how she transformed trauma into art.

• "Mulheres do meu País" (Women of My Country) (Documentary by Raquel Freire, 2019): Inspired by Maria Lamas's eponymous work, this documentary gives voice to contemporary Portuguese women from diverse backgrounds, showcasing their struggles and emancipations in the 21st century.

• "Clandestina" (2024): An award-winning documentary about the life of Margarida Tengarrinha, a central figure in the anti-fascist resistance in Portugal.

• "As Sufragistas" (Suffragette) (Film): Portrays the struggle of Emmeline Pankhurst and British women for the right to vote. Very moving.

• "As Horas" (The Hours): An unmissable film where Nicole Kidman plays Virginia Woolf. It shows how her book Mrs. Dalloway interweaves the lives of three women in different eras, addressing depression and the search for freedom.

• "Colette": The true story of the French writer who fought to be recognized as the author of her own works in a literary world dominated by men (and her husband).

• "Radioactive": (Film/Netflix): The story of Marie Curie, her scientific discoveries, and the price she paid for being a woman in a man's world.

• "Frida": Starring Salma Hayek, this film is visually stunning and portrays the life of the Mexican painter, from her tragic accident to her intense relationship with Diego Rivera and her artistic activism.

• "Simone, a Viagem do Século" (Simone, A Woman of the Century): Biography about Simone Veil, from her survival in Auschwitz to her political struggle for the right to abortion.

We'd love to know: what woman or story inspires you the most? If you have a book or film suggestion that has changed your perspective, share it with us in the comments below.

Happy International Women's Day! May we continue to fight and inspire the generations to come.