As of this morning, it’s official! Rue de l’Ecole-de-Chimie, where the Collective’s building is located, has been renamed Rue Pearl-Grobet-Secrétan. The change of name is part of the 3rd round of feminisation of street names carried out by the City of Geneva.

Based on the observation that only 7% of the streets in Geneva with a local personality bear the name of a woman, L’Escouade launched the 100Elles* project in 2019 with the aim of combating the invisibility of women* in public space and raising awareness of female personalities who have left their mark on Geneva’s history.

The project began with the installation of alternative pink plaques, followed by the publication of a collection of 100 portraits of emblematic women. The City of Geneva then began the process of officially changing the names of certain streets. In total, 28 streets in Geneva now bear the name of a woman*.

For more information, read our article from last December, published when the name change was announced.

You can also find out more about Pearl-Grobet-Secrétan and the other women who now have streets named after them in Geneva on the 100Elles* project website.

For over a century, March 8th has held significant meaning for feminists worldwide. Where does the idea of a specific date for gender equality come from? And what is its significance in Switzerland today?

As March 8th draws near, you might notice flashy ads promising discounts on everything from perfumes to flowers, often touting the day as “Women’s Day”. But don’t be fooled by the commercial hype! March 8th is so much more than just a sales event. It is a powerful reminder of the diverse experiences of women and the ongoing battle against gender discrimination. These ads not only reinforce outdated stereotypes but also trivialize the hard-fought victories for women’s rights throughout history. March 8th stands as a symbol of feminist resilience and progress towards equality. So, let’s take a moment to reflect on why this day matters and what we are truly celebrating.

International Women’s Day

The idea of an International Women’s Day traces back to August 1910, as the International Socialist Women’s Conference was taking place in Copenhagen, Denmark. Among the attendees was the notable German journalist and feminist Clara Zetkin who, inspired by the American socialist movement, proposed the establishment of an annual “Women’s Day”.  Although no specific date was initially set, the purpose was clear: to advance equal rights, particularly women’s suffrage.

The proposal gained traction among the 100 delegates from 17 countries, marking the inception of International Women’s Day. Fast forward to Switzerland in 1911, where the Swiss Union of Women Workers took up the cause, designating the 8th of March as the symbolic date for this movement. Over the years, the agenda of International Women’s Day has expanded to encompass various demands, from access to education to combating discrimination and violence, and advocating for women’s autonomy over their bodies.

Despite persistent efforts, Switzerland has long lagged behind. It wasn’t until 1971 that women gained federal voting rights, followed by the right to open a bank account without spousal consent in 1988, and the criminalization of marital rape in 2004.

Persistent inequalities

Despite progress made in recent decades, the road to equality is still a long one. Women, as well as trans intersex and non-binary people, are still disproportionately exposed to gender-based violence and discrimination today. Swiss statistics (1) paint a stark picture:

– On average, women earn 43.2% less than men (2)

– 60.5% of women have reduced their work hours to care for their children, as opposed to 14.4% of men (3)

– 16% of gender minorities have faced physical assaults due to their gender identity (4)

– 59% of women have experienced unwanted touching, hugging or kissing (5)

– One in five women have been subjected to non-consensual sexual acts (6)

The rights of women and gender minorities are far from secure; recent assaults on abortion rights in Western countries and the resurgence of reactionary movements serve as grim reminders. Beyond March 8th, it’s crucial to elevate the fight for equality as a continuous social, political, and collective endeavor.

What’s happening on March 8^th 2024?

From March 1st to 10th, the City of Geneva is hosting an Equality Week focused on ecofeminism. Delving into the intricate connections between gender inequality and the environmental crisis, the Service Agenda 21 has prepared a lineup of activities tailored for the general public, including school workshops and the release of a bibliography.

Events at la Collective :

• Running from March 7^th to 31^st, Swiss-Algerian artist Nadia Merzoug (LINK : ) will exhibit “Les femmes disparaissent”, a thought-provoking exploration of the male gaze and the marginalization of women in the film industry.
• On Saturday, March 9th, from 2 pm to 6:30 pm, NOUSSOMMES will host a workshop titled “What ecofeminist practices for men?” (in French)
• Saturday March 9^th from 10am to 5pm a workshop entitled “On en a marre” (LINK) will be organised by Viol-Secours and Jeannine et la scie sauteuse collective (in French) 
• Saturday March 9^th from 9am to 4.30pm, conference and workshop “Trésors du passé, forces du présent: explorer l’héritage des femmes” organized by Ressources Mindfulness association

Join the march organised by the Collectif de la Grève féministe (LINK) and/or follow the programme of the University of Geneva’s Equality & Diversity Service.

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(1) Statistics are generally based on binary categories (“men” and “women”). As a result, they do not capture all the discrimination and situations specific to trans, intersex and non-binary people. This does not mean that trans, intersex and non-binary people are less likely to be victims of violence – quite the contrary. 

(2) Calculated on the basis of the overall gap in earned income between women and men, FSO 2022. 

(3) FSO, Swiss Labour Force Survey (SLFS), Survey of Income and Living Conditions (SILC) 2021, version 17.04.2023

(4) The term “gender minority” refers to trans or intersex people. Léïla Eisner and Tabea Hässler, Panel Suisse LGBTIQ+ Rapport de synthèse, 2020.

(5) Survey conducted by the gfs.bern Institute on behalf of Amnesty International, 2019. 

(6) Survey conducted by gfs.bern on behalf of Amnesty International, 2019.

Radio Vostok

Ahead of the “Corps en Substance” exhibition debut, Radio Vostok hosted multidisciplinary artist Anaïs Virg and Camille Bajeux, a project manager at La Collective, to introduce the exhibition’s concept along with the accompanying workshops and performances. The showcased artworks delve into themes such as beauty standards, fatphobia, and hypersexualization. Anaïs Virg collaborated with Rachel Sottas and extended an invitation to photographer Stéphanie Probst to participate in the opening event.

Additionally, the Radio Vostok interview served as a platform to outline La Collective’s cultural program, scheduled to run until June 2024.

Listen here (in French) : radiovostok

In December 2023, Geneva’s Council of State gave the go-ahead for nine streets to be renamed in honour of influential women in the city’s history. This is the third wave of feminisation efforts in Geneva.

La Collective welcomes this decision with enthusiasm, especially as it affects the rue de l’Ecole-de-Chimie, where the organisation is based. From May 2024, the street will be officially known as Rue Pearl Grobet-Secrétan. 

This change resonates deeply with La Collective, which is poised to be a leading voice on gender and equality issues. With a street name that honours Pearl Grobet-Secrétan, a key figure in Geneva’s feminist history, La Collective is perfectly aligned with its core values and objectives.

Who was Pearl Grobet-Secrétan? 

Pearl Grobet-Secrétan (1904-1988) was a teacher, suffragette and socialist activist. After studying in London and New York, she settled in Geneva in 1947. She campaigned for women’s suffrage and family planning. She was also active in international organisations in Geneva, representing the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom and the International Federation for Human Rights at the UN.

Why should street names be feminised? 

Public spaces are deeply gendered, with women and gender minorities reporting feeling less safe in cities than their male counterparts. The feminization of street names encourages women to feel a sense of belonging in public places and recognizes their contributions to Geneva’s history and influence. While many European cities have moved towards feminising street names, Geneva still has a long way to go with only 7% of streets bearing female names in comparison with cities such as Stockholm (19.5%) and Madrid (18.7%)¹. This endeavour is not just a symbolic gesture; it represents a cultural, social and political shift in the direction of gender equality, with implications for the position of Switzerland on this issue.

The 100Elles* project 

Proposed by the feminist association l’Escouade, the 100Elles* project showcases one hundred women and gender minorities who have left an indelible mark on Geneva’s history, with the aim of renaming streets in their honour. Originally offering alternative pink plaques alongside the official names, the project has since expanded with the support of the City and Canton of Geneva. In 2019, ten streets will be officially renamed after women, followed by nine more in 2022. The recent announcement by the State Council on 6 December brings the total to 28.

To commemorate the International Day for the Elimination of Gender-Based Violence and the commencement of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence campaign on November 25th, 2023, RTS aired the harrowing testimony of a woman who endured both physical and psychological abuse from her partner. She detailed the insidious cycle initiated by her aggressor, which began with verbal insults, threats, and persistent belittlement, eventually escalating into more severe physical attacks.

As part of the ACCORPS exhibition on gender discrimination in public spaces, La Collective offered its premises for the filming of this report.

Free access (in French) :

• RTS infos

20 minutes

During November 2023, La Collective collaborated with Les Créatives festival to organize a feminist escape game. Created by the Filigrane library and the F-information association, this interactive game enabled over 260 participants to discover key conceps about gender equality, with the ultimate goal of fleeing the oppressive regime of the Patry-Arca!

A short video produced by 20 minutes presents the activity (in French) :

• 20min

At the beginning of November, La Collective hosted a press conference to launch the “Pour en finir avec les violences sexistes et sexuelles” campaign. With the participation of Geneva’s feminist groups and elected officials from the city and state of Geneva, the campaign launch garnered significant media attention. This widespread coverage helped raise awareness of the campaign among a broad audience.

Free access (in French) :

• 20 minutes
• Leman bleu
• Tribune de Genève
• Radio Télévision Suisse

Last January, the launch of the La Collective project was officially announced to the public. La Collective was conceived more than 10 years ago by the association F-information, and the project was formalised in mid-2021 under the aegis of Réseau femmes*. A private foundation in Geneva acquired the building in the central Plainpalais district of Geneva in 2022 and made it available to the Foundation for Gender Equality (formerly the Maison des Femmes Foundation), which was created in mid-2022.

This site, the only one of its kind in Europe, will open in 2026 and will include accommodation, a café, a crèche, a library, direct services for women and gender minorities, co-working spaces, a health centre, offices and a cultural centre.

Free access (in French) :
https://www.20min.ch/fr/story/une-maison-des-femmes-verra-le-jour-en-2026-635211707101

On subscription (in French) : https://www.letemps.ch/suisse/geneve/geneve-un-toit-commun-associations-defense-femmes