M8 + Matria: Rebirth

Many of us have in our (dis)affective memory the ritual of a tacky Women’s Day. A date for a gladiolus wrapped in cellophane, the postcard and the kisses, sometimes unwanted.

March 8 is the day that many men still take the opportunity to be condescending and recognize how «special» we are in their eyes.

They remind us that we are unique, extraordinary, unrepeatable… Only we can procreate and nurture; we always work twice as hard, inside and outside home; we assist, care, protect against everything and everyone; so many times we have known how to be forgiving in order to maintain the family… We manage to draw a smile even out of from a dry well and, in all circumstances, we care enough to be up to receiving good grades on our appearance.

It is a paradoxical scab in which the attempted homage sometimes becomes offensive. It is a fact that certain congratulations with that spirit and flowers with glitter or animated .gif on social networks are just annoying.

On the other hand, the alternative is to recognize that March 8 should be, every time more and more, a day of reflection, of building and remaking ourselves; a day to support the liberating feminisms in their local and global agendas.

March 8 should only be to claim the equality and freedom that women still need so much in all societies, although in different degrees and expressions.

This March 8, which we wish to come without cheesy gestures that dodge the recognition of patriarchy and machismo, we give life to this new Matria, grown up, ready to walk on her own.

Rebirth

Matria, a gender-focused communication service against sexist violence, emerged in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, in April 2020, as a result of a fruitful collaboration with Colectivo + Voces.

For over a year we grew and published our texts, graphics and videos on El Toque platform. Today, March 8, 2022, Matria is reborn, with similar purposes and greater aspirations.

We have many good friends, who encourage us and participate along with ideas, texts, images. We want to conquer many more and become a collective opportunity for personal and professional growth.

The Matria which we aim is a society of coexistence, equality and freedom. The path for this has not and will not be that of wars or polarization, which only benefit the powerful in all contexts. Although we will not be addressing only Cuban issues, Cuba will be our focus point. Cuba can be our dreamed motherland; a society without exclusions, of understanding, solidarity and acceptance.