International Women's Day's Most Ridiculous Events (Makeover, Anyone?)

Once upon a time, International Women’s Day was an empowering, revolutionary event, uniting suffragists, antiwar activists and equality leaders the world over. But now? It’s more of a cool-sounding, well-intentioned holiday that’s begun to lose its way, kind of like Earth Day or Gay Pride—or Christmas.

Its roots are upstanding: Begun with a 1909 declaration by the Socialist Party of America, IWD’s reach quickly spread to Copenhagen—and then Austria, Denmark, Switzerland and Germany, sparking rallies that called for women's rights to work, vote, be trained, to hold public office and end discrimination. In 1911, NYC’s tragic “Triangle Fire” brought even more attention to working conditions, and labor legislation in the U.S. became a major focus of subsequent IWD events. Its annual gatherings and actions continued to make a real difference, with efforts soon spreading to more than 27 countries, including Afghanistan, Cambodia, Russia and Zambia. The United Nations began celebrating the day in 1975.

So what does the lineup of IWD events look like today? Let’s call it a…mixed bag. There are still plenty of inspiring, change-making happenings on both the U.S. and foreign schedule, from documentary screenings to panels empowering and honoring female athletes, musicians, tech gurus and economists. But more and more, the original message seems to be falling apart. It’s all but disappeared from Copenhagen (not one official Denmark event is listed on the website), while Austria’s two events are a special sale event and a cocktail evening for “female globe hoppers.” 

But the U.S. has everyone beat when it comes to raising questions, starting with one of the official corporate cosponsors of the day, BP—you know, the company behind the Deepwater Horizon disaster, the largest marine oil spill in history.

Then there are the various off-message events—mixed in with the aforementioned great ones—which include wine tastings, shopping bonanzas, store launches, afternoon teas, “empowering” happy hours, fashion shows, sushi parties and, oddly, more than a dozen blood drives. Some random samples:

SwagHER Fitness Makeovers
Norman, OK
“SwagHER Fitness empowers women to love their bodies by having a healthy body image through fitness,” so on International Women’s Day, natch one lucky woman will win a free makeover by answering the following question: What do you love most about being a woman? OMG!

“What Women Want” Survey
Everywhere!
Simply tell GiftBasketsOverseas.com about your favorite gifts, and get $20 off your next purchase from the website! Not only that—your answers may be published as part of a “hottest gifts” guide for men.

Mary Kay Cosmetics Makeover Day
Richmond, CA
Stop in for some seriously radical free facials and makeovers, promising “Prizes, food and fun!”

“Burlesque Bombshells”
New York, NY
Catch a huge array of burlesque superstars—Perle Noire, Ivory Fox, Tina Tassels, Little Motown, Apathy Angel, you name it—shaking it, all in the name of girl power.

“A Toast to Women: Wine Tasting Soiree”
Lubbock, TX
Come sip some vino, ladies. That is all.

“Role of Women in Inspiring Change Through Beauty and Self-Confidence”
Sylvania, OH
Calling all “ladies”: The Herbally Radiant organic skincare shop is hosting a discussion about, yep, beauty. Feel free to shop while you’re at it.

Galette des Rois Celebration
New York, NY
Come celebrate the flaky French pastry, the galette, by stuffing your face with some while sipping bubbly. Because really, at this point, why the hell not?