Why Do We Celebrate Women's Achievements on March 8? (FutureStarr.com)
Edward Standley
Entrepreneur with Master's in Business driving digital innovation.
#InternationalWomensDay (IWD) is a worldwide celebration of women's accomplishments and an opportunity to raise awareness about gender equality. #futurestarr
At the dawn of the 20th century, labor movements across North America and Europe gave birth to what would become known as International Workers' Day, now celebrated around the world annually since 1911.
It’s a day to celebrate
International Women's Day is a global celebration that recognizes the social, economic and political achievements of women around the world. Additionally, it raises awareness about the challenges that women face around the globe.
Although women's lives have improved substantially over the last century, there remain significant gaps when it comes to gender equality and the fight against discrimination and poverty. Over half of the world's poorest people are women, and climate change is only making matters worse. It will take a concerted effort to reverse these effects and guarantee all women equal rights.
Women's Day began as an international day of celebration in 1911 when a group of female activists from Europe proposed it. It was officially adopted by the UN in 1977.
This international day was established through the labor and voting rights movements, spurred on by German activist Clara Zetkin who organized a conference in Copenhagen where 100 women unanimously supported the concept of an international day for women.
Even today, our world has changed and some countries have moved far from their political origins. While it's important to recognize the achievements made, it is also vital that we keep the movement active and stay aware of pressing issues.
On International Women's Day, many countries organize rallies and events to draw attention to the struggles women in third-world countries. These gatherings are usually organized by organizations dedicated to ending violence against women and promoting education.
Another reason we celebrate International Women's Day is that it brings people from around the globe together. It offers us a chance to connect and exchange stories, experiences and perspectives with one another.
By learning about different cultures and societies, we can gain a better insight into the difficulties women often face in daily life. For instance, in certain parts of the world it may be difficult for women to access affordable medical care.
It’s a day to remember
Every year on March 8th, women around the world celebrate their victories and work to promote gender equality. It is a day to reflect on how far women have come in politics, economics and society while acknowledging the obstacles they still face.
International Women's Day can trace its roots back to 1917 in Russia, when a group of women protested against tsarism and held strikes and demonstrations that eventually resulted in the tsar abdicating and provisional government giving women the right to vote.
This protest had both a political and economic focus, but was also symbolic of the growing women's suffrage movement in Europe. As this was Russia's first election with women voting, it set an example for other countries to follow suit.
This year, campaigners are encouraging us to challenge stereotypes and reject discrimination. It serves as a timely reminder of how gender bias negatively impacts girls and women across societies.
For instance, they cannot dress however they wish, drive cars or inherit property; they may have to work nights or even be forced into marriage. This issue affects millions around the world and needs to be addressed.
International Women's Day originated with German activist Clara Zetkin at an International Conference of Working Women in 1910. She proposed that it become a worldwide holiday and on March 19th of that same year it was first observed across Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland.
International Women's Day has evolved over time, becoming a worldwide celebration of women's rights and gender equality. Now a UN-sponsored day, it focuses on different topics related to women's advancement and suffrage.
IWD has become a milestone for women's empowerment and is now widely celebrated around the world. It serves as a reminder that we must continue working toward gender parity and actively combat any form of bias if we hope to make any progress, making IWD an essential event for everyone across all sectors of society.
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It’s a day to advocate
March 8 is a day to recognize women's accomplishments and promote gender equality. It serves as an opportunity to take stock of our progress over the years and acknowledge the still unfinished tasks that need to be addressed.
On this special day, let us remember all those women who have sacrificed their lives for others. Whether they be women of color, trans women or those living with disabilities, their contributions have been truly extraordinary and inspiring.
International Women's Day began as a labour movement in Europe and North America during the early twentieth century, honoring and celebrating female suffrage. Over time, however, it has evolved into an international celebration - honoring women from all backgrounds around the globe.
In 1975, the United Nations officially declared March 8 to be International Women's Day and since then it has been celebrated worldwide. Each year a different theme is chosen and celebrations take place to highlight female empowerment issues.
Recently, the internet and social media have given women a platform to amplify their voices and connect with a global audience. This has become an effective means for women to fight for their rights and seek change from a distance.
Women are taking control of their lives and making positive improvements for others around them. By using social media platforms to challenge bias, promote inclusion, and share stories and passions with the world, women are giving themselves the power to make a lasting impact on those around them.
To maximize the power of this inspiring movement, women and their allies must continue to break down structural barriers. These include economics, laws, cultural practices and access to higher education.
Acting to address these challenges is an integral part of our advocacy, so let's take advantage of this chance to learn more about the feminist movement and how we can all make an impact. From reading books by women leaders and activists to sharing our stories on social media platforms, there are so many ways we can show support for this empowering movement.
It’s a day to unite
On March 8, we join in celebrating International Women's Day to demonstrate our shared dedication to advancing gender parity.
For over a century, people around the world have observed March 8 as an occasion to recognize women's achievements, support gender equality efforts, and encourage us all to take action for furthering women's advancement. With that in mind, there are various ways you can commemorate International Women's Day that suit your organization's objectives, targets, and target audiences.
In 1908, 15,000 women marched through New York City demanding shorter working hours, better pay and the right to vote - marking the beginning of what would become known as "Women's Day."
Women's Day celebrations began in Europe, but it wasn't until 1917 when Russian women took action against food shortages and World War I that the holiday would truly become worldwide recognized. Vladimir Lenin, founder of the Communist Party of Russia, officially designated it as an official Soviet holiday in 1917.
Even though Women's Day celebrations began a century ago, today women still face obstacles to securing their full rights and being treated equally in society. Gender discrimination, unequal pay and harassment remain widespread worldwide.
According to the United Nations, women earn only 77 cents for every dollar men make and this gap is expected to widen in coming decades unless action is taken.
Women's Day serves to commemorate and celebrate all of our accomplishments, but also serves as a reminder of the obstacles still standing in our way. That is why this year's theme urges us to challenge gender bias and discrimination in all interactions - no matter how insignificant.
To celebrate International Women's Day, we urge you to make it your own by finding creative ways to recognize and celebrate women's accomplishments, while also calling on all of us to take action towards driving gender parity. Whether that means hosting an event, running a campaign, reporting on your successes, launching an initiative or donating to a female-centric charity - whatever works best for your group and audience!
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