The United Nations first celebrated International Women’s Day on March 8, 1975 and two years later, the international organization designated March 8 as an annual day of observation for International Women’s Day. This awareness day is celebrated in a variety of ways depending on the country. Many people use the day to honor the successes of women and various gender equality movements, while also raising awareness on the issues that continue to impact women such as pay inequality and the disproportionate impact of climate change on women and children.
Though the UN didn’t designate March 8 as International Women’s Day until 1977, the day originated in the early 1900s during labor rights protests and the suffrage movement. “The impetus for establishing an International Women’s Day can be traced back to New York City in February 1908, when thousands of women who were garment workers went on strike and marched through the city to protest against their working conditions.” (Haynes, 2018). To honor the anniversary of these labor strikes, the first National Women’s Day was celebrated in the United States on February 28, 1909. The celebration was led by Clara Zetkin, a German organizer and socialist, who was instrumental in spreading the awareness day in Europe. Russia celebrated its first International Women’s Day in 1913, but in 1917, after suffering from poor economic and social conditions, many used the day to protest and express their outrage over the mistreatment they faced. Their strikes and protests led to Russian women gaining the right to vote that same year. Suffragists in other nations learned from the experience of the women in Russia and used similar tactics to eventually gain the ability to vote. The collaboration and solidarity of women across the world continued throughout the 1900s and their activism paved the way for International Women’s Day to become a globally recognized holiday.
The International Women’s Day website offers resources and events to help you learn more about the day and connect with others who are invested in advocating for women’s equality. On March 8 at 2:00 pm, the National Cancer Institute will hold an event titled ‘Breaking Bias: Women in Healthcare and Science Leadership.’ On March 11 the ‘Reimagined in America: Advance Gender Equity’ event will discuss building gender equity policies and gender inclusive communities in the United States. The United Nations will also hold a virtual event on March 8 from 10:00 am- 11:30 am in celebration of International Women’s Day. The event will focus on climate change and its impact on women and children and will feature appearances from prominent international leaders and figures such as Jane Goodall and UN Leaders. Click here to register for this UN event! If you're interested in attending a local event, GWU's American Medical Women's Association (AMWA) will be holding a potluck to celebrate International Women's Day on March 8, 2022 from 12:00 pm- 1:00 pm in the Ross Hall Courtyard. Dean Bass will be a guest speaker! If you'd like to sign up to bring a dish to the potluck, use this Google Sheet.
There are many ways to observe International Women’s Day. It’s a time to reflect on the significant achievements of women around the world and the perfect time to commit to and work towards a more gender inclusive world. We hope you’ll learn more about the history of International Women’s Day or attend one of the many events that honor this holiday!
Work Cited:
Haynes, Suyin. (2018, March 8). The Radical Reason Why March 8 Is International Women’s Day. TIME Magazine. https://time.com/5187268/international-womens-day-history/
