To mark this International Women's Day, I have joined women around the world to strike both at home and at work. I'm actually in the enviable yet complicated position of not having all that much to protest on a personal level. My boss is fully supportive of me not coming into the office, and my husband pulls far more weight at home than most Italian men.

He's also an incredible, deeply involved dad. But he cannot deny that I still do the lion's share of housework and emotional labour, with no one picking up my slack if I ever get overwhelmed by other things. So while I may not have any gross domestic inequality to protest today, I am taking a small stand against the fact that I still do the majority of that invisible, second shift work, just like so so many other women. And it's not fair!

With all that first and second shift work, I haven't had a day to myself in four months. So I'm using the strike to inspire me to keep fighting for time for myself. It's something my own mother never did, and I'm determined not to make the same mistake. I need time for my writing, which I still can't seem to figure out how to prioritize. Today I gave myself the gift of writing without a time limit and it has been glorious, and vital.

I'm also striking to publically stand with others who believe in the cause of ending gender-based violence and discrimination. Tonight at 6pm I will be joining Non Una di Meno Firenze and others in Piazza Santissima Annunziata for the noisy procession to Piazza Santo Spirito, my favourite square in Florence, where "musica e aperitivo femminista" await us. See more at the event's Facebook page if you're interested and come out if you can!