International Women's Day

4,000 women and their supporters marched through downtown Manila in 2008

International Women's Day (IWD) is marked on March 8 every year. It is a major day of global celebration for the economic, political and social achievements of women.

It started as a political protest on March 8, 1857, 1859 and 1908 when women marched through New York City demanding shorter hours, better pay and voting rights. The holiday that developed blended the culture of many countries (primarily Russia and the countries of the former Soviet bloc). In some celebrations, the political and human rights theme as designated by the United Nations runs strong, and political and social awareness of the struggles of women worldwide are brought out and examined in a hopeful manner. In others, however, the day lost its political flavor, and became simply an occasion for men to express their love to the women around them in a way somewhat similar to Mother's Day and St Valentine's Day mixed together.

Similar to the American "Hallmark Holidays", International Women's Day provides a chance for Cameroonian women to buy 5000 francs worth of brightly colored fabric. They also get to drink in the bars, which isn't usually accepted in villages

The IWD is also celebrated as the first spring holiday, in the listed countries below as the first day of the spring season.

History

Women's suffrage movement

In the later half of the turbulent nineteenth century amid rapid world industrialization there was great population growth and many new ideas were being born, women began to seek better treatment at their work site and greater rights. On March 8, 1857, women garment workers demonstrated against their inhumane working conditions and low wages in New York City. They were attacked by the police and dispersed. Two years later, the first labor union was formed by these women to try to protect themselves asking for basic rights in the workplace.

On March 8, 1908, 15,000 women marched through New York City demanding shorter work hours, better pay, voting rights and an end to child labor. Their slogan was "Bread and Roses", bread symbolizing economic security, and roses meaning a better quality of life. In May, the Socialist Party of America designated the last Sunday in February for the observance of National Women's Day.

Following the Socialist Party of America's declaration, the first ever National Woman's Day was celebrated in the United States on February 28, 1909. Women continued to celebrate it on the last Sunday of that month through 1913.

Clara Zetkin and Rosa Luxemburg, 1910

At an international conference in Copenhagen, Denmark, in 1910, held by socialist organizations from around the world, they proposed an international Women's Day. Clara Zetkin, a German socialist, suggested the International Day to remember the strike of garment workers in the United States. The proposal received unanimous approval by over 100 women from 17 countries, including the first three women elected to the parliament of Finland. The Day was established to honor the movement for women's rights, including the right to vote (suffrage). At that time no fixed date was selected for the observance.

This declaration caused an International Women's Day to be commemorated in 1911 for the first time in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland. March 19 saw over a million men and women in a series of rallies. In addition to calling for the right to vote for women and to hold public office, they demanded the right to work and an end to discrimination on the job.

Founded in 1915 in Washington, DC, the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) is the oldest women's peace organization in the world

But on March 25, 1911, the tragic Triangle Fire in New York City took the lives of over 140 workers, mostly young Italian and Jewish immigrant girls working at the Triangle Shirtwaist Company, due to the lack of safety measures. The Women's Trade Union League and the International Ladies' Garment Workers Union led many of the protests against this avoidable tragedy. A silent funeral march brought out over 100,000 people. This fire had a significant impact on labor legislation. Subsequent International Women's Day commemorations often reminded participants of this horrific tragedy.

Russian women observed their first International Women's Day on the last Sunday in February 1913 to trike for "bread and peace" during the era of World War I. Political leaders opposed the timing of the strike, but the women went on anyway. Demonstrations marking International Women's Day in Russia proved to be the first stage of the Russian Revolution of 1917. Four days later the Czar of Russia abdicated and the provisional government granted Russian women the right to vote. Women held rallies in Europe on or around March 8 either to protest the war or to express solidarity with their sisters.

The 1932 Soviet poster dedicated to the 8th of March holiday

Following the October Revolution, the Bolshevik feminist Alexandra Kollontai persuaded Lenin to make it an official holiday in Russia, and it was established, but was a working day until 1965. On May 8, 1965 by the decree of the USSR Presidium of the Supreme Soviet International Women's Day was declared as a non working day in the USSR "in commemoration of outstanding merits of the Soviet women in communistic construction, in the defense of their Motherland during the Great Patriotic War, their heroism and selflessness at the front and in rear, and also marking the big contribution of women to strengthening friendship between peoples and the struggle for peace."

IWD wained in popularity but was revived by the rise of feminism in the 1960s. Since that time International Women's Day has increased in importance as a platform for supporting women's rights in developed and developing countries alike.

In December 1977 the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution proclaiming a United Nations Day for Women's Rights and International Peace. The United Nations has held four global conferences which support the demand for women's rights and participation in the political and economic process and make it a growing reality.

In 1975 the UN drew global attention to women's concerns by calling for an International Women's Year and convening the first conference on women in Mexico City. The next was held in Copenhagen, Denmark in 1980. The third was held in 1985 in Nairobi, Kenya. The purpose was to look at what had been achieved at the end of the decade. In 1995, Beijing hosted the Fourth World Conference on Women for representatives from 189 different countries, who agreed that inequalities between women and men have serious consequences for the well-being of all people.

March 8 rally in Dhaka, Bangladesh

The conference declared a set of goals for progress of women in various areas including politics, health, and education. The final document issued by the conference (called the "Platform for Action") states: "The advancement of women and the achievement of equality between women and men are a matter of human rights and a condition for social justice and should not be seen in isolation as a women's issue."

Five years later, in a 23rd special session of the United Nations General Assembly a report, "Women 2000: Gender Equality, Development and Peace for the 21st Century" reviewed the progress the world has made towards achieving the goals set out by the Beijing conference. Known as the "Beijing +5" conference, delegates found both progress and persevering obstacles. The delegates made "further agreements to continue carrying out the initiatives of the 1995 women's conference."

Results

A candlelight walk in Oslo, Norway 2007

As a result of the international focus on Women in 1975, a number of institutions were established:

• International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women (INSTRAW)
• United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM)
• International Women's Tribune Center, 1976
• Women's Studies Resource Centre was established in South Australia during July
• Women's Electoral Lobby in South Australia

Also, the United Nations has made women's issues a high priority item on their Millennium Development Goals (MDG).

Women's Day in modern culture

File:Mar8-06 2.jpg

Afghanistan commemoration

The day is an official holiday in Albania, Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, China, Cuba, Italy, Laos, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Tajikistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, and Zambia, and is observed by men giving the women in their lives - mothers, wives, girlfriends, colleagues, etc., flowers and small gifts. In some countries (such as Romania) it is also observed as an equivalent of Mother's Day, where children also give small presents to their mothers and grandmothers.

The poster right, depicts the original spirit of IWD in the former Soviet Union, "The 8th of March is the day of the rebellion of the working women against the kitchen slavery" and "Down with the oppression and narrow-mindedness of the household work!." Originally, in the USSR, the holiday had a clear political character, emphasizing the role of the Soviet state in the liberation of women from the second-class citizens' position...

After the collapse of the Soviet Union celebrations of IWD were abandoned in Armenia. Instead April 7 was introduced as a state holiday of ‘Beauty and Motherhood.’ The new holiday immediately became popular among Armenians, as it commemorates one of the main holidays of the Armenian Church, Annunciation. However, people still celebrate IWD on March 8 as well. Public discussion held on the topic of two ‘Women’s Days’ in Armenia resulted in the recognition of the so called ‘Women’s Month’ which is the period between March 8 and April 7.

In Italy, to celebrate the day, men give yellow mimosas to women. Yellow mimosas and chocolate are also one of the most common March 8 presents in Russia.

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Croatia, Hungary, Romania, Moldova, Macedonia, Montenegro, Poland, Bulgaria, Slovenia and Serbia the custom of giving women flowers still prevails. Women sometimes get gifts from their employers too. School children often bring gifts for their teachers as well.

In countries like Portugal and Romania, on the night of March 8, groups of women celebrate in "women-only" dinners and parties.

In India, IWD holds great significance during the daytime celebrations which highlights the power of women in the modern era and how vital their role is in society.

Poster to "All you beautiful ladies"

In 1975, which had been designated as International Women’s Year, the United Nations gave official sanction to it and began sponsoring International Women's Day.

The 2005 Congress (conference) of the British Trades Union Congress overwhelmingly approved a resolution calling for IWD to be designated a public holiday in the United Kingdom.

International Women's Day encountered violence in Tehran, Iran on March 4, 2007, when police beat hundreds of men and women who were planning a peaceful demonstration. Police arrested 26 women and many were released after several days of solitary confinement and interrogation. Several prominent community activists, Shadi Sadr and Mahbubeh Abbasgholizadeh, were finally released on March 19th- ending a fifteen day hunger strike. Not all women arrested have been released and there have been disparate international media reports suggesting as many as 70 arrests.

File:Condoleeza Rice.jpg

US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, created the Annual International Women of Courage Award in 2007

Today many events are held by women's groups around the world. Many governments and organizations around the world support IWD. The United States designates the whole month of March as 'Women's History Month'. Global interest in IWD shows a steady increase.

In 2007 the US State Department initiated an Annual International Woman of Courage Award, presented by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Undersecretary of State Paula Dobriansky, to recognize women who have significantly contributed to peace making around the world. US embassies recommend notable women and eight are chosen to be honored at the State Department in the US on March 8.

File:WFWP IWD 3.24.07 076.jpg

Ambassador to the US from Guinea Bissau, HE Purificacion Angue Ondo speaking at the Women's Federation for World Peace, USA commemoration of IWD in 2007

In addition there are dozens of programs held in March to commemorate the day in the United States. From The Initiative for Inclusive Security to Women's Federation for World Peace, USA's Women's Middle East Peace Initiative (WMEPI) hold events which educate about and highlight the situation of women struggling for equality and peace in the world.

University support

File:Bethlehem-34-.jpg

Bethlehem

A number of universities around the world have done notable research into women's issues and advancement and use International Women's Day as a platform for useful events and opportunities to educate society about the issues surrounding women's equality. Key active universities to date who have supported International Women's Day are: - Bethlehem University, Palestine - Boise State University, Idaho, US - George Washington University, Washington, DC - La Trobe University, Bundoora, Australia - London City & Islington College, UK - Fordham University, New York - Monash University, Australia - University of Colorado, US - University of Kansas, US - University of Minnesota, US - University of Vermont, US - University of Western Sydney, Australia

Corporate support

There has been a move by a number of global corporations to support IWD more actively. Some have created their own programs, while others support national or international programs. For the March 8 commemoration, Google changes its logo on its global search pages. HSBC corporation has hosted the largest and longest running IWD event in the United Kingdom through its global women's company, Aurora which hosts a free worldwide register of IWD local events so that women and the media can locate local activity. In 2007, Nortel sponsored IWD activities for thousands of women in over 20 countries. Nortel connects its global workforce though a "coordinated program of high-level IWD activity."

Accenture corporation also supports this effort both online through an IWD webcast and in the public sphere. Accenture sends more than 2,000 of its employees to participate in leadership development sessions, career workshops and corporate citizenship events held across six continents - in eight cities in the United States and in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Germany, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Spain, South Africa and the UK for International Women's Day.

Media support

Annually, media coverage of International Women's Day is significant, ranging from small editorials in provincial and regional newspapers to large-scale and in-depth global specials and features. Some media bodies cover this event more extensively than others:

- Aljazeera TV, Doha, Qatar - BBC, UK - Bloomberg, UK - Colorado Daily Newspaper, US - CNN, US - Guardian Newspapers Ltd, UK - KUJH-TV, Kansas, US - Radio Prague, Czech Republic - Russia Today, Russia - Women's Radio Fund, Vancouver, Canada

See also

• International Women's Year
• Women's History Month
• International Men's Day

References

ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

• Bolden, Tanya. 33 Things Every Girl Should Know About Women's History: From Suffragettes to Skirt Lengths to the E.R.A., Crown Books for Young Readers; 1 edition, 2002. ISBN 978-0375811227
• Franklin, Robin and Tasha Lebow Wolf Franklin. Remember the ladies!: a Handbook of Women in American History, Illinois State Board of Education, 1984. ASIN B000H2971Q
• Howard, Angela and Francis M. Kavenik. Handbook of American women's history, Sage Publications, Inc; 2 Sub edition, 2000. ISBN 978-0761916352
• Jones, Constance. 1001 Things Everyone Should Know About Women's History, Main Street Books; 1st ed., 2000. ISBN 978-0385483872
• Kandel, Liliane and Françoise Picq, "Le Mythe des origines à propos de la journée internationale des femmes", in: La Revue d'en face, 12, 1982.
• Kaplan, Temma. "On the Socialist Origins of International Women's Day", in Feminist Studies, 11, 1985.
• Lunardini, Christine A. What Every American Should Know About Women's History: 200 Events That Shaped Our Destiny , Bob Adams Inc. Publishers; 1st ed. 1994. ISBN 978-1558504172

External links

All retrieved August 12, 2008.

• International Museum of Women imaginingourselves.imow.org
• International Women's Day 2007 - United Nations web site www.un.org
• More detailed overview www0.un.org
• Library of Congress Women's History www.loc.gov
• National Women's History Project www.nwhp.org
• IWD www.internationalwomensday.com
  • Aurora/HSBC supporting organization for IWD www.hsbc.com
  • Supporting organization for IWD www.cisco.com
  • Supporting organization for IWD www.deloitte.com

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