International Women's Day (IWD) is celebrated on March 8 every year to honor women's achievements, raise awareness about women's rights and gender equality, and promote the empowerment of women globally.
Why do we celebrate Women's Day on March 8?
The idea of commemorating Women's Day started at the turn of the 20th century. In 1908, 15,000 women marched through New York City demanding better working conditions, higher pay, and the right to vote. The first National Woman's Day was observed in the United States on February 28, 1909. Later, in 1910, Clara Zetkin, a German feminist and a leader of the Women's Office for the Social Democratic Party proposed the idea of an International Women's Day being celebrated every year. The proposal was accepted at the International Socialist Women's Conference in Copenhagen, and the first International Women's Day was celebrated on March 19, 1911, in Austria, Denmark, Germany, and Switzerland.
The idea of commemorating Women's Day started at the turn of the 20th century. In 1908, 15,000 women marched through New York City demanding better working conditions, higher pay, and the right to vote. The first National Woman's Day was observed in the United States on February 28, 1909. Later, in 1910, Clara Zetkin, a German feminist and a leader of the Women's Office for the Social Democratic Party proposed the idea of an International Women's Day being celebrated every year. The proposal was accepted at the International Socialist Women's Conference in Copenhagen, and the first International Women's Day was celebrated on March 19, 1911, in Austria, Denmark, Germany, and Switzerland.
The date was later changed to March 8, and it has been celebrated globally ever since. The United Nations officially recognized International Women's Day in 1975, and it has become an important day to highlight the challenges that women face around the world and to celebrate their achievements.
International Women's Day QuotesInternational Women's Day History
International Women's Day (IWD) is celebrated annually on March 8th to honor women's achievements and advocate for gender equality. The history of IWD dates back over a century, and it has been recognized by the United Nations since 1975.
The first Women's Day was observed in 1909 in New York City by the Socialist Party of America to commemorate a 1908 garment workers' strike in which women protested against working conditions. The event was a great success, and it inspired other countries to observe a similar day.
In 1910, at the International Socialist Women's Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark, German socialist Luise Zietz proposed an annual International Women's Day to honor the movement for women's rights and build support for suffrage. The proposal was seconded by fellow German socialist Clara Zetkin and was unanimously approved by the conference, which included over 100 women from 17 countries.
The first International Women's Day was celebrated on March 19, 1911, in Austria, Denmark, Germany, and Switzerland, with rallies and demonstrations calling for women's right to vote, work, and hold public office.
Over the years, the observance of IWD spread throughout the world, and it became a symbol of women's struggle for equality and justice. During World War I, women in Russia observed IWD on March 8, 1917, and their protests against bread shortages and the war's toll on Russian soldiers eventually led to the overthrow of the Tsar and the establishment of the first socialist state.
Today, International Women's Day is celebrated in countries around the world, and it has become an occasion to recognize women's achievements in all fields, to promote gender equality, and to call attention to the ongoing struggles for women's rights.
International Women’s Day 2023 Theme
The theme for International Women’s Day 2023 is ‘Cracking the Code: Innovation for a gender equal future’. This theme is based on the United Nations 67th Commission on the Status of Women priority theme ‘Innovation and technological change, and education in the digital age for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls’.
International Women's Day Facts
1. International Women's Day is celebrated annually on March 8th.
2. The first International Women's Day was observed in the United States in 1909, but it wasn't until 1911 that it became an official event in Germany, Austria, Denmark, and Switzerland.
3. The theme for International Women's Day 2022 is #ChooseToChallenge. The campaign calls for individuals to take action and challenge gender bias and inequality.
4. The colors associated with International Women's Day are purple, green, and white. Purple signifies justice and dignity, green represents hope, and white symbolizes purity.
5. International Women's Day is a public holiday in some countries, including Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, China (for women only), Cuba, Georgia, Guinea-Bissau, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Madagascar, Moldova, Mongolia, Nepal, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, and Zambia.
6. According to the World Economic Forum's Global Gender Gap Report 2021, it will take 135.6 years to close the gender gap globally, with women still facing significant barriers in terms of economic participation and political representation.
7. International Women's Day is an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of women throughout history and to raise awareness of ongoing struggles for gender equality around the world.
8. The UN's theme for International Women's Day 2021 was "Women in leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world," highlighting the critical role that women have played in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.
9. International Women's Day has been recognized by the United Nations since 1975, and the organization has designated a different theme for the day each year since then.
10. International Women's Day has become a global movement that seeks to empower women, promote gender equality, and build a more just and inclusive world for all.
Here are some inspiring quotes to celebrate International Women's Day:
"There is no limit to what we, as women, can accomplish." – Michelle Obama
"A woman is like a tea bag - you never know how strong she is until she gets in hot water." – Eleanor Roosevelt
"I raise up my voice–not so I can shout, but so that those without a voice can be heard." – Malala Yousafzai
"Feminism isn't about making women stronger. Women are already strong. It's about changing the way the world perceives that strength." – G.D. Anderson
"The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don't have any." – Alice Walker
"Women belong in all places where decisions are being made. It shouldn't be that women are the exception." – Ruth Bader Ginsburg
"I am not free while any woman is unfree, even when her shackles are very different from my own." – Audre Lorde
"I do not wish women to have power over men; but over themselves." – Mary Wollstonecraft
"Women are the real architects of society." – Harriet Beecher Stowe
"I am a woman with thoughts and questions and shit to say. I say if I'm beautiful. I say if I'm strong. You will not determine my story – I will." – Amy Schumer
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