International Women's Day
International Women's Day (IWD) is a global holiday, celebrated annually on 8th March, to mark the economic, political and social accomplishments of women. It has been observed since the early 1900’s but its origins and history extend back to the birth of the women’s right movement in Europe and the US.
Up until the 20th century women in western cultures had very few rights and suffered gross injustices under legal systems where married women had no property rights; husbands had complete power over their wives and could imprison or beat them with impunity; and inheritance, divorce and child custody laws favored men. Many prominent “intellectuals” believed that education for girls and young women was unnecessary and should be limited to only that which was necessary to run a proper home. Even in the supposedly democratic societies founded on “liberty and justice for all,” there were no laws that established and protected the rights of women. In fact, American women – including those from upper class families who had supposedly been “free women” all along – gained the right to vote 50 years after former male slaves did and more than 140 years after the Declaration of Independence.
The month of March, particularly the 8th, has a recurring significance in the History of the Women’s Rights – especially the labor and socialist movements in which working women provided much of the impetus, staging labor protests to demand better pay and working conditions. On March 8, 1857, a group of women workers in New York City staged a protest asking for improved working conditions and better pay. This led to the formation of the first women’s labor union in March 1859.
Half a century later women had still not received the same basic rights that men enjoyed. And so, on March 8th 1908, exactly 100 years ago, once again a crowd – this time 15 ,000 women strong – fed up with social inequalities and spurred on by the emerging ideologies of that era, marched the streets of New York City demanding better hours, increased wages and the right to vote. It was one year later, at the behest of the Socialist Party of America, that the first official observance of a “Women’s Day” took place in the United States on February 28th 1909.
The following year, at the 1910 Second International Conference of Socialist women in Copenhagen, an International Women's Day of unspecified date was proposed to laud and support the women's rights movement and work towards the goal of universal suffrage for women. Over 100 women from 17 countries unanimously agreed to the proposal. As a result, International Women's Day was marked for the first time on March 19, 1911 in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland. More than 1 million people attended rallies where women demanded the rights to vote, hold public office, work, and to receive vocational training and an end to discriminatory practices in the work place.
In the following years, on the Eve of World War I, observances of IWD throughout Europe took on the form peace rallies, with women gathering to protest the war. And, in 1917, after the loss of some 2 million Russian soldiers, Russian women gathered on the last Sunday in February ( February 23 according to the Julian Calendar and March 8 according to the Gregorian) to again protest for peace – despite opposition from the government. This historical strike proved to be the initial stage of the Russian Revolution – 4 days later the Czar was overthrown and women were granted the right to vote. Soon thereafter the day was made an official holiday in Russia.
International Women's Day continued to grow from its roots in the socialist movement to become a global day of recognition and celebration throughout the world, and in 1975 the United Nations designated March 8th to be 'International Women’s Day’. Today government and women’s organizations around the world observe IWD annually by holding events that honor the accomplishments and advancements of women and call for continued action to ensure that such progress continues. Women from all continents, who have often been divided by national boundaries and ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic and political differences, gather on this – their momentous day – to look back to a tradition that represents at least nine decades of struggle for equality, justice, peace and development. International Women’s Day serves as a reminder of all that women have achieved in the past two centuries and of what they still need to accomplish.
Why is International Women's Day Celebrated?
Women constitute more or less 50% of the population in the world, but in some countries their social status in relation to that of men is miserable. In other countries some progress has been achieved, but nowhere can it be said that they have same status as men. In many regions of the world, practices like dowry, female infanticide, and discrimination against women is common. But women around the world continue to strive to obtain equal social and economic rights and opportunities.
On 8th March every year, women around the world celebrate their struggle, reflect on the progress made, call for change, and celebrate extraordinary acts of courage and determination by the sometimes ordinary women who have played a role in establishing women's rights.
History of Women's Day
Formally women's day came into being in Russia when on a Sunday on the eve of World War I, in 1917, Russian women observed a strike for bread and peace. The strike was a great victory in the history of women's struggle as the administration granted women the right to vote. That historic Sunday fell on 8th March according to Gregorian calendar.
1908
Great unrest and critical debate was occurring amongst women. Women's oppression and inequality was spurring women to become more vocal and active in campaigning for change. Then in 1908, 15,000 women marched through New York City demanding shorter hours, better pay and voting rights.
1909
In accordance with a declaration by the Socialist Party of America, the first National Woman's Day (NWD) was observed across the United States on 28 February. Women continued to celebrate NWD on the last Sunday of February until 1913.
1910
At a Socialist Int'l meeting in Copenhagen, an Int'l Women's Day of no fixed date was proposed to honour the women's rights movement and to assist in achieving universal suffrage for women. Over 100 women from 17 countries unanimously agreed the proposal. 3 of these women were later elected the first women to the Finnish parliament.
1911
Following the decision agreed at Copenhagen in 1911, International Women's Day (IWD) was honored the first time in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland on 19 March. More than one million women and men attended IWD rallies campaigning for women's rights to work, vote, be trained, to hold public office and end discrimination. However less than a week later on 25 March, the tragic 'Triangle Fire' in New York City took the lives of more than 140 working women, most of them Italian and Jewish immigrants. This disastrous event drew significant attention to working conditions and labour legislation in the United States that became a focus of subsequent International Women's Day events. 1911 also saw women's 'Bread and Roses' campaign.
1913 - 1914
On the eve of World War I campaigning for peace, Russian women observed their first International Women's Day on the last Sunday in February 1913. In 1914 further women across Europe held rallies to campaign against the war and to express women's solidarity.
1917
On the last Sunday of February, Russian women began a strike for "bread and peace" in response to the death over 2 million Russian soldiers in war. Opposed by political leaders the women continued to strike until four days later the Czar was forced to abdicate and the provisional Government granted women the right to vote. The date the women's strike commenced was Sunday 23 February on the Julian calendar then in use in Russia. This day on the Gregorian calendar in use elsewhere was 8 March.
1918 - 1999
Since its birth in the socialist movement, International Women's Day has grown to become a global day of recognition and celebration across developed and developing countries alike. For decades, IWD has grown from strength to strength annually. For many years the United Nations has held an annual IWD conference to coordinate international efforts for women's rights and participation in social, political and economic processes. 1975 was designated as 'International Women's Year' by the United Nations. Women's organizations and governments around the world have also observed IWD annually on 8 March by holding large-scale events that honor women's advancement and while diligently reminding of the continued vigilance and action required to ensure that women's equality is gained and maintained in all aspects of life.
2000 - 2008
IWD is now an official holiday in Armenia, Russia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Vietnam. The tradition sees men honoring their mothers, wives, girlfriends, colleagues, etc with flowers and small gifts. In some countries IWD has the equivalent status of Mother's Day where children give small presents to their mothers and grandmothers.
The new millennium has witnessed a significant change and attitudinal shift in both women's and society's thoughts about women's equality and emancipation. Many from a younger generation feel that 'all the battles have been won for women' while many feminists from the 1970's know only too well the longevity and ingrained complexity of patriarchy. With more women in the boardroom, greater equality in legislative rights, and an increased critical mass of women's visibility as impressive role models in every aspect of life, one could think that women have gained true equality. The unfortunate fact is that women are still not paid equally to that of their male counterparts, women still are not present in equal numbers in business or politics, and globally women's education, health and the violence against them is worse than that of men.
However, great improvements have been made. We do have female astronauts and prime ministers, school girls are welcomed into university, women can work and have a family, women have real choices. And so the tone and nature of IWD has, for the past few years, moved from being a reminder about the negatives to a celebration of the positives.
Annually on 8 March, thousands of events are held throughout the world to inspire women and celebrate their achievements. While there are many large-scale initiatives, a rich and diverse fabric of local activity connects women from all around the world ranging from political rallies, business conferences, government activities and networking events through to local women's craft markets, theatric performances, fashion parades and more.