A woman was forced to scrub “Happy International Women’s Day” off steps while men watched, and the pic is going viral
Yesterday, March 8th, International Women’s Day urged women to continue to fight for change under the theme #PressForProgress. People everywhere remembered history-making women and honored those who had inspired them. They posted inspirational quotes on their Instagram pages, wore shirts showing their feminist pride, organized protests, and shared information about gender inequality. But, sadly, not everyone was on board with the spirit of Women’s Day. In one viral photo, a cleaning woman was ordered to scrub the words “Happy International Women’s Day” off a flight of steps while a group of men watched her.
On the day of the celebration, Sophie Smith, a professor of political theory at the University of Oxford noticed male security guards standing around while a woman scrubbed the chalk writing off of the steps of the university’s Clarendon Building. She snapped a picture and shared it on Twitter, where it has been liked more than 24,000 times and retweeted more than 17,000 times.
"Oxford security makes a woman cleaner scrub out 'Happy International Women's Day' on the Clarendon steps," Smith wrote in her tweet. "What an image for #IWD, @UniofOxford."
The university quickly issued an apology in response to Smith’s tweet.
"We are deeply sorry for this and for offence caused," Oxford tweeted in response to Smith. "International Women's Day is hugely important to Oxford. This should not have happened."
Oxford security makes a woman cleaner scrub out “Happy International Women’s Day” on the Clarendon steps. What an image for #IWD, @UniofOxford. #strikeforUSS #UCUstrike pic.twitter.com/E9u5S37hWW
— Sophie Smith (@DrSophieSmith) March 8, 2018
We are deeply sorry for this and for offence caused. International Women's Day is hugely important to Oxford. This should not have happened.
— University of Oxford (@UniofOxford) March 8, 2018
Smith replied to the university’s apology by saying that the woman from the photo should receive “a heartfelt apology, a warm cup of tea, and the rest of the day off, and, along with all our precarious staff, good enough pay to live in this city.”
I appreciate your apology, but far more importantly can you please make sure that the woman asked to remove the message receives a heartfelt apology, a warm cup of tea, the rest of the day off and, along with all our precarious staff, good enough pay to live in this city.
— Sophie Smith (@DrSophieSmith) March 8, 2018
The citizens of Twitter were quick to point out the irony of the woman having to clean the writing off on Women’s Day.
Symbolism is important here. During a peaceful International women's day rally. A low paid and probably precariously employed female cleaner, was sent out in the freezing cold to clean chalk writing saying Happy International Women's Day. Did it have to be removed? Then?
— Garrick Taylor (@OfficialGarrick) March 8, 2018
It's an ironic and iconic image of a female having to clean away what should be a recognition and celebration on #IWD!
— Michele Rumsey (@Michele_Rumsey) March 9, 2018
While 4 blokes stand around chatting 🙄
— DanC (@DanSeanClayton) March 8, 2018
Christopher Oxford: Security men send for a female cleaner to erase chalked International Women's Day graffiti, then stand around chatting: an inadvertently telling tableau, which has caused the University of Oxford some PR grief today. 👍😄 pic.twitter.com/Ar8KHQNMpl
— Witchy MacWoman Ghost in The Machine (@witchymacwoman) March 9, 2018
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Others criticized Oxford for seeming to encourage the erasure of the message.
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Once again, @UniofOxford suppressing freedom of expression, on today of all days. Someone in the management should explain to those blokes.
— Ancient Sounds (@sounds_ancient) March 8, 2018
I’m sure the rain ☔️ would have washed it away as it does the chalking at rowing 🚣♀️ events😉Not really necessary to remove on #IWD18 was it @UniofOxford
— Lady Leontia (@leontiahogan) March 9, 2018
The idea of a woman having to remove a message celebrating Women’s Day is incredibly ironic and undermines the importance of honoring women’s accomplishments. And the contrast between the female cleaner working and the male security guards standing around is also telling. Pictures speak volumes, and we’re glad that Smith captured this image on camera. This photo is a reminder of why we need International Women’s Day, and we will keep fighting for gender equality.
