International Women’s Day

Hi

This Thursday, 8th March, is International Women’s Day. A day celebrated in many countries around the world. According to the United Nations it is a day “when women are recognised for their achievements without regard to divisions”, while still calling for gender equality. I’m sure that many of you knew this. Have you ever stopped to think though, how such a day ever came about?

I thought it must have been quite a recent recognition; a day to celebrate the achievements of women. I was wrong. According to the United Nations, the first day emerged from the labour movements in North America and across Europe, at the turn of the twentieth century. In 1908, 15,000 female garment workers took to the streets in New York City in protest against working conditions. On the 28th February the following year, The Socialist Party of America, designated this day National Woman’s Day in honour of the workers.

In 1910, The Socialist International, meeting in Copenhagen, proposed the idea of an International Women’s Day to push for women’s rights and build support for achieving suffrage. The proposal was unanimously supported by over 100 women from more than 17 different countries; no date was fixed. As a result of the Copenhagen Initiative, International Women’s Day was marked for the first time on 19th March 1911 in Austria, Denmark, Switzerland and Germany.

In 1913, International Women’s Day also became a mechanism for protesting World War 1. Russian women celebrated the day on the last Sunday of February. In the rest of Europe, on or around, 8th March women held rallies to protest about the war or to express solidarity with other activists. This became the official date for International Women’s Day, although it was only recognised by the United Nations in 1975.

Each year celebrates a different theme. In 2018, the theme is #PressforProgress. Despite achievements made by pioneering women, gender equality has not been realised.

IWD  Hands out to #PressforProgress

The World Economic Forum’s 2017 Global Gender Report findings highlight that gender parity is still more than 200 years away. With global movements including #TimesUp and #MeToo, there has never been a more important time to keep motivated and accelerate the pace of change.

Here at the University we have a number of activities for you to support, promote and get involved with:

  • A Women’s empowerment issue of their magazine is being created by the Creative Writing Society;
  • On the 8th, staff in History, along with students in the History Society are hosting a debate profiling individuals who have had a significant role or influence in the history of women;
  • The Quad Walk Gallery will be dedicated to women’s history with a launch event on 8th;
  • The SU Education Officer is running an Instagram campaign #sheinspiresme seeking posts of inspiring female figures; and
  • an animation to celebrate the day is being designed to share online.

We are also attending an event to inspire young women achieve their ambitions and promote gender equality hosted at Pittville Pump Room on Saturday 10th March. More information can be found here.

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