“妇女节”为什么不能是“女神节”？Why shouldn’t Women’s Day be called ‘Goddess Day’?

International Women’s Day is a great, powerful day. On March 8th every year, IWS celebrates the history and potency of women all around the world, regardless of skin color and social class. It honors women's achievements and promotes women’s rights. However, the level of celebration of IWD in China stands in stark contrast to its history.

The History of International Women’s Day

The coming of International Women’s Day came treacherously. In the 20th century, women were hardly valued socially and politically, mattering more only in the domestic sphere. In America, the Market Revolution gave rise to the middle class, which burgeoned the culture: “cult of domesticity”. Women were confined to the limits of household chores, raising children and serving their husbands, alienated from voting and suffrage rights. In 1908, oppression towards women accumulated to a point of rebellion. In New York City, 15,000 women marched demanding shorter hours, equal pay and voting rights. Therefore, in 1909, the Socialist Party of America declared the National Women’s Day to be on February 28th. 

Internationally, the celebration of IWD birthed under Clara Zetkin, leader of the 'Women's Office' for the Social Democratic Party in Germany. At the Second International Conference of Working Women, held in Copenhagen, 1910, she tabled the idea of an international women’s day. The conference, seating 100 women from 17 countries, agreed to this proposal unanimously. 

Following the consensus, IWD was celebrated on March 11th for the first time in countries like Austria, Denmark and Switzerland. Over 1 million women and men attended IWS rallies demanding the right to work, vote and hold public office. However, 1911 also saw some sad stories. In New York City, the tragic “Triangle Fire” took the lives of 140 working women. In Russia, women in Petograd on March 8th staged a strike protesting food shortages, bad living conditions and WW1. This protest of “bread and peace” eventually gave rise to the Russian Revolution and the abdication of Nicholas II. In 1921, the date of IWD was officially changed to March 8th.

What is International Women’s Day like in China?

In China, international women’s day seems to have lost its original meaning and significance. In an attempt to commercialize such a holiday, China has initiated a revolutionary rebrand on the International Women’s Day, calling it “Goddess Day” instead of its original name. Shopping malls offer large discounts on cosmetics and clothing, e-commerce platforms promote “goddess shopping festivals,” and advertisements praise women as beautiful, elegant, and worthy of indulgence — for one day.

At first glance, the term “Goddess Day” may appear flattering. After all, being called a “goddess” seems like a compliment. However, this language subtly transforms a day of political struggle and labor rights into a day centered on beauty and idealized femininity. It is to disregard the historical roots of women’s attempts to fight for rights, and instead, label the day as a legitimate means of consumption for women. It is to say: you are worthy only because you buy clothes and cosmetics. 

Furthermore, by framing women as “goddesses,” the narrative also imposes a new expectation. A goddess is perfect and admired. Yet real women are workers, students, mothers, activists, and citizens — people with rights and political voices. Calling women “goddesses” risks turning them into symbols rather than individuals with concrete social demands. 

Language matters because it shapes how people understand history and social movements. When International Women’s Day is reframed as “Goddess Day,” the focus moves away from the historical struggle of women and toward consumption. 

In the end, we believe that International Women’s Day, above anything else, should be celebrated and taken seriously. A global movement for equality should not turn into a marketing slogan, diminishing the feminist roots of the celebration.

Again, women deserve social and political rights, not just clothing discounts.