International Women’s Day
International Women’s Day (IWD) is observed every year on 8 March to honor the achievements of women and promote gender equality.
In 1908, 15,000 women marched through New York City, USA, demanding better working conditions, higher wages and the right to vote. The following year, the Socialist Party of America declared February 28 the first National Women’s Day to honor the New York garment workers’ strike.
In 1910, the International Socialist Women’s Conference in Copenhagen proposed an annual International Women’s Day to promote women’s suffrage and other women’s rights issues. The proposal was approved unanimously, and the first International Women’s Day was celebrated in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland on March 19, 1911.
The date of International Women’s Day was changed to March 8 in 1913 and since then this date has been the official date. During World War I, women’s activism and organizing were vital to the war effort, and International Women’s Day became a way of protesting the war and advocating for peace.
In 1975, the United Nations officially recognized International Women’s Day, and it has since become a global celebration of the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day is marked with rallies, marches, conferences and other events that raise awareness of women’s issues and advocate for gender equality.
Over the years, International Women’s Day has evolved into a global movement highlighting issues such as violence against women, unequal pay, gender discrimination, and lack of access to education and healthcare.
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In 2011, International Women’s Day marked its 100th anniversary, and that year’s theme was “Equitable access to education, training, and science and technology: The pathway to decent work for women.” In recent years, the theme has focused on gender equality, including #PressForProgress in 2018 and #BalanceforBetter in 2019.
In addition to celebrating the achievements of women, International Women’s Day serves as a reminder of the work that still needs to be done to achieve gender equality around the world. It is a call to action for individuals, organizations and governments to take steps towards achieving gender equality in all walks of life.
The colors purple, green, and white are often associated with International Women’s Day, with purple symbolizing justice and honor, green representing hope, and white symbolizing purity. The day is also marked by the giving and receiving of flowers, especially the purple crocus, which is seen as a symbol of the IWD.
International Women’s Day is now celebrated in more than 100 countries around the world, and the annual theme and events are coordinated by the United Nations Women’s Organization.
Theme of International Women’s Day
International Women’s Day (IWD) has a theme every year to highlight specific issues related to women’s rights, empowerment and gender equality. Like every year, this time also there is a new theme, the theme of this International Women’s Day 2023 is “Digital: Innovation and Technology for Gender Equality”. However, in the past, themes have included #ChooseToChallenge (2021), #EachforEqual (2020), #BalanceforBetter (2019), and #PressforProgress (2018). These themes aim to inspire and encourage people around the world to take action to achieve gender equality and women’s rights.
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International Women’s Day 2023 Missions
International Women’s Day is a global day of celebration and a call to action for gender equality, and the day is typically marked by various activities and events around the world. Some of the typical missions of International Women’s Day include :-
1. Raising awareness about gender inequality and discrimination
2. Celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women
3. Advocating for gender equality and women’s rights
4. Promoting women’s empowerment and leadership
5. Encouraging women to break down barriers and achieve their full potential
6. Calling for greater gender diversity and inclusion in all spheres of society
7. Supporting women-owned businesses and enterprises
8. Recognizing and addressing the unique challenges faced by marginalized and vulnerable women, such as women in poverty, women with disabilities, and women from minority communities.
These are just a few of the possible missions for International Women’s Day 2023, and the specific activities and events that will be held may vary depending on the country, community, and organization involved
Who started Women’s Day in India
International Women’s Day is celebrated every year on 8 March across the world including India to celebrate the economic, social, political and cultural achievements of women. The concept of Women’s Day was first introduced in 1908 by Clara Zetkin, an American socialist and women’s rights activist.
In India, the first Women’s Day was celebrated in Chennai (then known as Madras) on February 28, 1909, organized by the Socialist Party of India. The day was observed to raise awareness about women’s rights and promote gender equality. The first National Women’s Day in India was celebrated in Mumbai (then known as Bombay) on March 8, 1914, by the Indian Federation of Women to support women’s rights. Since then, March 8 is celebrated as National Women’s Day in India every year.
