International Women's Day in Vienna: From Muse to Artist – Colourful Fist Challenges Old Gender Stereotypes
Strolling through central Vienna this Saturday, one thing immediately catches the eye: the Colourful Fists emblazoned on t-shirts, placards and banners. 8 March, International Women's Day, has a firm grip on the city. But this time, everything feels a little different. The young women taking to the streets here aren't sporting demure flowers in their buttonholes – they're wearing statement t-shirts with slogans that cut deep.
"I am not the muse, I am the artist" declares one in bold letters on a black summer t-shirt, paired with a faded denim jacket. Another protester has pulled on a men's shirt bearing the playful inscription: "I AM NOT THE MUSE I AM THE ARTIST 8 MARCH WOMEN'S DAY". It's as if a phrase that has been circulating on social media for a few years has finally been brought out onto the streets. The message is clear: we are no longer the silent muses in the background, inspiring artists – we are the ones picking up the paintbrush, the microphone, the spray can ourselves.
The street as a catwalk of protest
What's happening here in Vienna is more than just a demo. It's a fusion of fashion, politics and everyday culture. The t-shirts for 8 March have become walking billboards. They show that feminism doesn't have to stay in the lecture hall or the women's cafe, but is lived on the street – comfortable, versatile, and one hundred percent stylish, as various online platforms put it. Alongside the artist slogan, you repeatedly spot the Colourful Fist, a motif that has long since become the symbol of a militant, solidarity-driven movement. It stands for diversity, for anger, but also for unity. A fist that doesn't strike, but connects.
The atmosphere is charged, but not aggressive. A group of older women with grey plaits mingles with the young activists. They remind us that the struggle isn't new. "My grandmother was already marching for women's suffrage in 1911," one of them calls out to the crowd. And indeed, 8 March has its roots deep in the women workers' movement and the peace protests of the early 20th century. Today, with war raging again in Europe, the day takes on an added urgency. Women organise aid convoys, sew protective vests, protest against rearmament. The slogans merge: Peace and feminism – two sides of the same coin.
What the slogans mean today
Listening closely to the chants and reading the placards, you encounter a vibrant mix of old and new demands:
- "Equal pay for equal work" – a classic that has lost none of its relevance.
- "My body belongs to me" – as crucial as ever in times when reproductive rights are once again under attack.
- "Colourful Fist against right-wing hate" – a clear statement against the rising tide of right-wing extremism in Europe.
- "I am not the muse, I am the artist" – the slogan that perfectly encapsulates the new generation: self-determined, creative, loud.
The t-shirt of a young woman being carried through the crowd on her friend's shoulders features a classic "8 March Women's Day International Women's Day" motif. Nearby, a small stall sells self-printed shirts with the inscription "I Am Not The Muse I Am The Artist" – summer, crew neck, 100% cotton, but also 100% statement. The seller grins: "They're selling like hot cakes, these things. People don't just want to consume anymore, they want to show where they stand."
Sure, part of it is also commerce. That's undeniable. But when thousands of people join the women's strike marching down Mariahilfer Straße in the afternoon, when they whistle, drum and raise their fists in the air, you can feel it: something's bubbling beneath the surface. It's not just a nice custom to give women flowers. It's a day when invisible work becomes visible, when anger at injustice has to be released – and when the joy of community prevails.
At the rally's conclusion on Heldenplatz, the old anthem "Bella Ciao" is loudly struck up once more. But the lyrics have been rewritten. "A woman who is free will never bow down," echoes across the square. And somehow, that fits perfectly with 8 March 2024: tradition lives on, but the tone is more confident. The muse has left the studio and is now right in the thick of life – paintbrush and palette in hand, and more than a little fire in her belly.