Ways to celebrate International Women's Day—including shopping from women-owned businesses

You may have known that March marks?Women's History Month , but did you know?today, March 8?is International Women's Day? It's a holiday celebrated across the globe to highlight incredible women, past and present, along with their struggles and achievements. If you don't know much about the holiday, there's no need to fret—we're here to teach you all about the special day,?including its history and various ways to celebrate it.?

History of International Women’s Day?

International Women’s Day has a long history dating back to the early twentieth century.?The first documented Women's Day ?was observed in the United States on February 28th. Organized by the Socialist Party of America, the day was meant to commemorate the 1908 Garment Worker's Strike in which women protested their working conditions. In the following decade, international women's suffrage movements organized National Women's Days across various nations in Europe. These days were meant to drum up support for women's rights to vote, equality in education and an end to discrimination. In 1975, the United Nations began celebrating March 8th as International Women’s Day.?While International Women’s Day is not an officially recognized holiday in the United States, it is in many countries?including ?China, Ukraine, Russia and Zambia, among many others.?

Ways to honor International Women’s Day?

There are many ways to commemorate and celebrate International Women's Day. For one, you can take the time to honor an important woman in your life, such as by writing her a thoughtful letter or giving her a gift to show how much they mean to you and inspire you. If you identify as a woman, you can use the day as an excuse to give yourself well-earned rest or to reflect on the ways you are strong and valid.?After all, the?theme of this year's IWD 2023 ?is to?#EmbraceEquity , which is being shared?across social media in the form of hugging oneself.

International Women's Day owes its existence largely to the various suffrage movements that populated the early twentieth century. While great strides have been made to improve women’s rights since the early 1900s, there's still a lot of work to be done. Consider dedicating your time to helping a woman-related cause you care about or learning about important and influential women figures. What’s more, educate others about the?groundbreaking women of our past and present . Finally, you can support women-owned?businesses and products by purchasing from them, as solidarity is power.?

Biographies of amazing women?

As she had to overcome the difficulties brought on by her blindness and deafness, Helen Keller is a prime example of the power of perseverance. In addition to advocating for those with disabilities, Helen Keller was a staunch supporter of women's suffrage and other freedoms considered radical at the time. One of the best books to learn about this larger-than-life woman is The Radical Lives of Helen Keller by Kim E. Nielson as it delves into the aspects of Helen Keller that are often sanitized or glossed over.?

If we're talking about larger-than-life women from the early twentieth century, we'd be remiss to leave out Amelia Earheart, the record-breaking pilot extraordinaire who opened the door for many female pilots after her. Her death was as notable as her life, with the mystery surrounding it remaining unsolved to this day. If you'd like to learn more about Earheart, 27 years later, her eponymous biography by Doris L. Rich continues to be a great, comprehensive read about her life.?

Rosa Parks is another woman who deserves to be remembered on National Women's Day thanks to her dedication to civil rights. While many know of her famous role in the Montgomery Bus Boycott, Rosa Parks led a long life of activism beyond that. In Jeanne Theoharis' award-winning biography, Rosa Parks' life and philosophy are laid bare to give readers a better, fuller sense of who she was.?

For the rest of the article and to learn where to purchase products to celebrate International Women's Day visit the article by Kaleb A. Brown @ https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/reviewed/2023/03/08/history-international-womens-day-2023-and-how-celebrate/11425439002/