If you see the men sad, stressfully counting their last money in their pocket, if you see young boys getting sick and missing school, or if your boyfriend breaks up with you for insignificant reasons, you feel that 8th of March is coming. These are some of the jokes associated with one of the biggest, most popular holidays in Uzbekistan, International Women’s Day, celebration of which dates back to Soviet Era.
It has been since this period in our history that Uzbekistan has actively marked March 8th as a widely observed holiday, supported by the government as part of our emphasis on gender equality and women’s accomplishments. Despite having attained independence following the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, it is still a significant event in our country’s cultural and social calendar, with a range of activities and events planned to commemorate women and eliminate gender gap.