Thousands of women have taken to the streets of cities across Spain for marches protesting against wage gaps and gender violence, and demanding an end to glass ceilings for female workers.

“If we stop, the world stops” was the slogan opening more than 300 protests in the country on International Women’s Day.

Thursday saw a full day of strikes, with 5.3 million people participating, according to two of Spain’s main workers’ unions.

Women march as they shout slogans during International Women’s Day (AP)
Women marching in Barcelona (AP)

The March 8 Commission, a platform of feminist organisations that coordinated the marches, said that women working at home, unpaid caretakers and students were the main focus of this year’s protests.

Strikes were especially noticeable in the media, with prominent female anchors and journalists absent from television screens and radio programs.

Nearly 7,500 female journalists have signed a manifesto calling for equal pay and opportunities.