Don’t go out. Don’t shop. Don’t go to school. Don’t consume. The urging from women’s activists is clear, but it remains unclear whether Mexico will really go a day without women. It has also generated an intense debate about whether becoming “invisible” for a day will be a political statement, a diluted effort because some bosses have authorised paid time off or an ineffective way to push for change.

The discussion has gone beyond the usual circles of feminist collectives, public figures and social networks to become a conversation topic in the streets of Mexico, even for those who don’t feel empowered to skip work. However, a Facebook group called “A Day Without Women” has more than 320,000 Mexican members who debate and inform each other about the possible consequences of not going to the office, hospital or school that day.