International Women’s Day (March 8) is a global day celebrating the historical, cultural, and political achievements of women. The day also is a day of action in support of taking action against gender inequality around the world. We all know the world couldn’t run without women. This is the day to appreciate their efforts!
Many organizations come together in this day to help and encourage you to take action to start making substantive change for women worldwide. Below are just a few:
Although the day wasn’t officially recognized until 1977 by the United Nations, the history of the celebration can be traced back to the early as 1909 with rallies and calls for equal rights for women across North America and Europe.
Russia was the first to have an International Women’s Day in 1913 and in 1914 German and England were the first to celebrate this day on March 8 as it is celebrated today. (While London’s was more of a rally than a celebration, at least in the first year).
The day remained predominantly a communist holiday until about 1967 when it was taken up by second-wave feminists. The day re-emerged as a day of activism in the late 1960’s and 1970’s. The United Nations began celebrating International Women’s Day in the International Women’s Year, 1975. In 1977, the United Nations General Assembly invited member states to proclaim March 8 as the UN Day for women’s rights and world peace.
On this day of action for women’s equal rights, what will you do to make a difference? Here’s some ideas for ways to get involved.
Thanks to Top Agency for sharing information with us on this great day.
Today I downloaded Duolingo onto my daughter’s tablet so she can keep having fun learning Spanish, and have a chance at higher literacy in more languages than many of her peers!