--- title: Bread and Roses! description: Bread and Roses, Women's Movement, and Intersectional Feminism image: https://www.leadingnow.biz/hubfs/Blog_Images/BreadandRoses.jpg --- [![LN-Logo-2021](https://www.leadingnow.biz/hs-fs/hubfs/ADMIN%20-%20All%20Brands/LN/LN-Logo-2021.png?width=147&height=80&name=LN-Logo-2021.png "LN-Logo-2021")](https://www.leadingnow.biz/) # Bread and Roses! 3 min read | [Samantha Furbush Taraskiewicz](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/author/samantha-furbush-taraskiewicz) - Share: - [Facebook ](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/bread-and-roses?utm_medium=social&utm_source=) - [LinkedIn ](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?url=https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/bread-and-roses?utm_medium=social&utm_source=&title=Bread+and+Roses%21) - [Twitter ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/bread-and-roses?utm_medium=social&utm_source=&url=https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/bread-and-roses?utm_medium=social&utm_source=&source=tweetbutton&text=Bread+and+Roses%21) - [Email ](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/bread-and-roses?utm_medium=social&utm_source=%20&body=Check%20out%20https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/bread-and-roses?utm_medium=social&utm_source=) ![Iceland Women's Day Off, photo from the BBC](https://www.leadingnow.biz/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog_Images/IcelandStrike.jpg?width=320&name=IcelandStrike.jpg "Iceland Women's Day Off, photo from the BBC")March 8th is International Women's Day and in addition to the official [#BeBoldForChange](https://www.internationalwomensday.com/Theme) campaign, other groups across the United States and the world are preparing for an [International Women's Strike](http://www.womenstrike.org/). A "day without women" is not a new concept and has happened a number of times across the world with varying effect, most notably in recent times,  Iceland's Women's Day Off on 24 October 1975. Women from all across Iceland, with different backgrounds brought the country to a screeching halt.  According to the [Global Nonviolent Action Database](http://nvdatabase.swarthmore.edu/content/icelandic-women-strike-economic-and-social-equality-1975): "The striking women achieved their goal of demonstrating the importance of their work, at all levels from home to workplace, to the well being of the country. They essentially shut down most of the nation for the day. While this was their main goal... it even led to the passage of an equal rights bill..." While the bill did little to change things immediately, Iceland is now ranked #1 on the WEF's [Global Gender Gap Index](http://reports.weforum.org/global-gender-gap-report-2016/rankings/). While they still have a ways to go to reach true parity, they have taken steps to insure they are moving in the right direction.  Women striking to bring awareness to their conditions has deep roots and the [Lawrence Textile Strike of 1912](http://breadandrosesheritage.org/history.html) is a perfect example. This strike is better known as the Bread and Roses Strike for a line in activist Rose Schneiderman's speech "**The worker must have bread, but she must have roses, too**" which was inspired the title of the poem *Bread and Roses *by James Oppenheim:  > *“...As we come marching, marching, we battle too for men, > For they are women’s children, and we mother them again. > Our lives shall not be sweated from birth until life closes; > Hearts starve as well as bodies; give us bread, but give us roses! ...”* ![Bread and Roses Heritage Committee](https://www.leadingnow.biz/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog_Images/BreadandRoses.jpg?width=320&name=BreadandRoses.jpg "Bread and Roses Heritage Committee")The textile workers, predominantly women, demanded higher wages to survive - the *Bread*. And improved working and living standards - the *Roses*. "Bread and Roses" became a rallying cry for the movement and shows what we can do when we break down barriers and work together. The intersection of the women's rights moment and labor movement and between workers of many different ethnicities lead to a win for the strikers and sweeping labor reforms across the United States. [Intersectionality](https://www.ted.com/talks/kimberle_crenshaw_the_urgency_of_intersectionality) and overcoming [gender dynamics](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/topic/gender-dynamics) was key to success of the Bread and Roses Strike and the Women's Day Off, and it is key to the women's movement now.  [![ADayWithoutWomen.jpg](https://www.leadingnow.biz/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog_Images/ADayWithoutWomen.jpg?width=320&name=ADayWithoutWomen.jpg)](https://www.womensmarch.com/womensday/)In the United States, organizers have three different actions you can take on 8 March to show your support of "equity, justice and the human rights of women and all gender-oppressed people, through a one-day demonstration of economic solidarity" 1. Wear red in solidarity  2. Do not engage in paid and domestic work 3. Avoid spending money (except at small women owned businesses)  How will you be honoring International Women's Day 2017? Let us know! Please email me your stories and pictures at samantha@leadingwomen.biz   Lead ON!  Samantha *One of our programs provides tips for effectively, calmly and strongly dealing with [Gender Dynamics](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/topic/gender-dynamics). Check out the infographic and then contact us to find out how we can help your organization. * [![](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/292089/interactive-162532449976.png) ](https://www.leadingnow.biz/hs/cta/wi/redirect?encryptedPayload=AVxigLIK4XDsQ4pflBJic7BHI4%2BPV8gBGQpet%2FSvmpOR2fcWSUlsuBmMd8%2FwxhdT%2BqdQhUjjK4YchxXtyRDlL%2BBSAIkU%2FSObPIbcBcAS%2FHyVImh%2FwQqjlSSnhixkV8wLcSqFh5zrGFKvQ66X%2F63rFdIUuAwnXJbTIJbUrVW92p4QJDXK9CtHXGWfANPC6ECO9%2F18x67SD09qiCiw0iXgSXMmq%2BYI66Rh&webInteractiveContentId=162532449976&portalId=292089) [![New Call-to-action](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/292089/262acae6-4364-4eeb-a02b-20da8a24930f.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/292089/262acae6-4364-4eeb-a02b-20da8a24930f) [Gender Dynamics](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/topic/gender-dynamics) [Diversity & Inclusion](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/topic/diversity-inclusion) [Gender Bias](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/topic/gender-bias) This is a search field with an auto-suggest feature attached. - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. ### Subscribe #### Interested in seeing the latest insights on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion?   Stay up to date by subscribing to our blog. [Subscribe](http://leadingwomen.us10.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=7e3e1db45054d8de3a2c5ae49&id=bd74d50aef&submissionGuid=ded46f3f-9886-42d6-b256-424d635d3098) ### Latest Posts ### Posts by Category - [#ConferenceInABox (8)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/topic/conferenceinabox) - [Accountability (2)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/topic/accountability) - [Allies (4)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/topic/allies) - [Assessments (4)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/topic/assessments) - [Belonging (2)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/topic/belonging) - [Breakthrough Leadership (10)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/topic/breakthrough-leadership) - [Business Imperative (6)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/topic/business-imperative) - [Career (38)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/topic/career) - [CEO Advice (7)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/topic/ceo-advice) - [Change (9)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/topic/change) - [Closing the Gender Gap (52)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/topic/closing-the-gender-gap) - [Cultural Dynamics (8)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/topic/cultural-dynamics) - [DE&I (4)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/topic/dei) - [Diversity & Inclusion (26)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/topic/diversity-inclusion) - [Gender Bias (8)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/topic/gender-bias) - [Gender Diversity (5)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/topic/gender-diversity) - [Gender Dynamics (48)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/topic/gender-dynamics) - [In Case You Missed It (8)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/topic/in-case-you-missed-it) - [IWD (8)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/topic/iwd) - [IWiN (7)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/topic/iwin) - [lbgtq+ (4)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/topic/lbgtq) - [Leadership (53)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/topic/leadership) - [Leading NOW (64)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/topic/leading-now) - [Making the Business Case (8)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/topic/making-the-business-case) - [Managers Mindsets (31)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/topic/managers-mindsets) - [Media Release (30)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/topic/media-release) - [Mentoring (12)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/topic/mentoring) - [Millennials (6)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/topic/millennials) - [Motherhood Penalty (3)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/topic/motherhood-penalty) - [Networking (3)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/topic/networking) - [Psychological Safety (3)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/topic/psychological-safety) - [Reverse Mentoring (2)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/topic/reverse-mentoring) - [STEM (1)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/topic/stem) - [Strategic Relationships (4)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/topic/strategic-relationships) - [Talent Development (54)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/topic/talent-development) - [TED (4)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/topic/ted) - [The Missing 33%® (33)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/topic/the-missing-33) - [Tools/Resources (12)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/topic/toolsresources) - [Training (2)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/topic/training) - [Unconscious Bias (5)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/topic/unconscious-bias) - [Virtual Programs (5)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/topic/virtual-programs) - [Women of Color (9)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/topic/women-of-color) - [Women's Leadership Development (22)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/topic/womens-leadership-development) - [Work From Home (1)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/topic/work-from-home) [See all](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/bread-and-roses#) ### Posts by Author - [Alison Lazenby (2)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/author/alison-lazenby) - [Diane Coffey Chaput (52)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/author/diane-coffey-chaput) - [Erin Defoyd (7)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/author/erin-defoyd) - [Gretchen Sussman (3)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/author/gretchen-sussman) - [Guest Blogger (4)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/author/guest-blogger) - [Kelly Primus (34)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/author/kelly-primus) - [Michelle Redfern (5)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/author/michelle-redfern) - [Samantha Furbush Taraskiewicz (46)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/author/samantha-furbush-taraskiewicz) - [Susan Colantuono (74)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/author/susan-colantuono) - [Tim Kemp (2)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/author/tim-kemp) - [Vanessa Phipps (1)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/author/vanessa-phipps) [See all](https://www.leadingnow.biz/blog/bread-and-roses#) ### Follow Us - [LinkedIn ](https://www.linkedin.com/company/leading-now-llc) - [Facebook ](https://www.facebook.com/LeadingNOWLLC) - [Twitter ](https://twitter.com/LeadingNOWLLC) - [Instagram ](https://www.instagram.com/LeadingNOWLLC/) ![WOSB Certification Logo](https://www.leadingnow.biz/hubfs/WOSB%20Certification%20Logo.png "WOSB Certification Logo") [![LW_WebFooter](https://www.leadingnow.biz/hs-fs/hubfs/ADMIN%20-%20All%20Brands/LW_WebFooter.png?width=150&name=LW_WebFooter.png)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/leading-women)  [![GDI_WebFooter](https://www.leadingnow.biz/hs-fs/hubfs/ADMIN%20-%20All%20Brands/GDI_WebFooter.png?width=150&name=GDI_WebFooter.png)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/gender-dynamics-institute)  [![CDI_WebFooter](https://www.leadingnow.biz/hs-fs/hubfs/ADMIN%20-%20All%20Brands/CDI_WebFooter.png?width=175&name=CDI_WebFooter.png)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/center-for-diversity-and-inclusion)  [![LeadFor-FINAL_RGB_2022Jul](https://www.leadingnow.biz/hs-fs/hubfs/ADMIN%20-%20All%20Brands/LF/LeadFor-FINAL_RGB_2022Jul.png?width=120&name=LeadFor-FINAL_RGB_2022Jul.png)](https://www.leadingnow.biz/leading-foward)   ©2013-2025 Leading NOW, LLC. | All Rights Reserved | [Privacy Policy](https://www.leadingnow.biz/privacy-policy)       ![hrtech](https://www.leadingnow.biz/hs-fs/hubfs/hrtech.png?width=130&height=124&name=hrtech.png "hrtech")