By Lucy Caulkett-
Every year on March 8th, people around the world come together to celebrate International Women’s Day (IWD). This day serves as a poignant reminder of the achievements of women, while also highlighting the ongoing struggle for gender equality and inclusivity.
The roots of International Women’s Day trace back to the early 20th century. In 1909, the Socialist Party of America marked the first National Woman’s Day, commemorating the bravery of 15,000 women who marched in New York City to demand better working conditions.
Inspired by this event, Clara Zetkin, a leading advocate for women’s rights, proposed the idea of a global International Women’s Day in 1910.
The following year, on March 19, 1911, the inaugural International Women’s Day was observed across Austria, Denmark, Germany, and Switzerland, drawing more than a million participants.
Since then, International Women’s Day has evolved into a global movement, with the United Nations officially recognizing and endorsing the celebration in 1975.
Over the years, the UN has used this platform to honor the contributions of women and advocate for gender equality worldwide.
This year, the theme for International Women’s Day is ‘Inspire Inclusion.’ In a world where diversity and empowerment are paramount, the campaign emphasizes the importance of inclusivity in all aspects of society.
Fostering a sense of belonging and empowerment is an important way of creating a more equitable world for women.
The significance of this year’s theme is underscored by the ongoing struggle for economic empowerment among women.
With the UN designating the theme as ‘Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress,’ there is a renewed focus on addressing economic disparities and empowering women economically.
The ‘Inspire Inclusion’ campaign encourages individuals and organizations to champion diversity, support women in leadership roles, and advocate for inclusive practices in all spheres of life.
As part of the campaign, people are encouraged to share their #InspireInclusion images on social media, using hashtags such as #IWD2024 and #InspireInclusion. This collective effort aims to raise awareness, spark conversations, and inspire meaningful action towards gender equality and inclusivity.
On International Women’s Day, the aim is to reflect on the progress made and recommit ourselves to the ongoing fight for gender equality.
IWD is recognized as an official national holiday in Armenia, Belarus, Cambodia, Cuba, Georgia, Laos, Mongolia, Montenegro, Russia, Uganda, Ukraine and Vietnam.
Voting Rights
In 1917, the celebration of Women’s Day in Russia earned women the the right to vote. Women in Russia commemorated the day that year by going on strike for ‘bread and peace’ in order to protest World War I and campaign for gender equality.
Tsar Nicholas II was far from happy and authorized General Khabalov of the Petrograd Military District to shoot any woman who refused to stand down. They did not back down and the protests remained and led to the Tsar’s abdication.
Tsar Nicholas II Getty Images//Getty Image
The interim government granted women the right to vote as a result of their protest action.
Celebrating the achievements of women and inspiring inclusion, we can build a brighter, more inclusive future for all.
“When we inspire others to understand and value women’s inclusion, we forge a better world,” states the IDW website. “And when women themselves are inspired to be included, there’s a sense of belonging, relevance, and empowerment. Collectively, let’s forge a more inclusive world for women.”
Through this campaign, there is an emphasis on recognizing the importance of diversity and empowerment in various spheres of society, and underscoring the pivotal role of inclusion in advancing gender equality.
“When women aren’t present, we must ask: “If not, why not?” When women are discriminated against, we must call out poor practice. When the treatment of women is not equitable, we must take action. And we must do this each time, every time.
The Significance Of International Women’s Day And Women’s Rights
.There are many reasons why international women’s day is important, and their rights should be remembered.
28 girls a minute are being forced to marry against their will
There are more than 250 million women alive today who were married before their 15th birthday, many against their will.
This is a worldwide problem driven by deep-rooted patriarchal beliefs that girls only have value in roles as traditional housewives and homemakers, therefore it is not worth investing time and money into education or a life beyond marriage.
The pandemic has exacerbated the issue: according to UN Women, 10 million more girls are at risk of becoming child brides by 2030 as a direct result of COVID-19.
1 in 3 women will experience violence
According to the World Health Organisation, it is estimated that one in three women will experience some kind of physical or sexual abuse in her lifetime.
Cases of domestic abuse significantly increased during national lockdowns at the height of the pandemic in what the UN called the ‘shadow pandemic’.
Calls to domestic violence helplines increased during the pandemic by 40% in Malaysia, 50% in China and Somalia and a huge 79% in Colombia.
The Global Gender Gap Report 2021 also found that at our current rate, it will take another 135.6 years to achieve equality between men and women globally.
Like many points on this list, the gender gap has only been worsened by the pandemic, with women facing higher redundancy rates and greater job instability as a result of economic shock – reports suggest that 5% of all employed women lost their jobs, compared with 3.9% of employed men.
Data from LinkedIn also showed a decline of women’s hiring into leadership roles, creating a reversal of 1 to 2 years of progress across multiple.
Women deserve all the support they can get to ensure they can maximize their potential without the impediment of bias and discrimination from a male dominated world.