Today, March 8, is International Women’s Day. Celebrated for over a century in one way or another, International Women’s Day is now a global celebration of the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women, and also serves as a call to action for accelerating gender parity.
With roots in the Socialist Party, the first Women’s Day in New York City was February 28, 1909. Inspired by that, German delegates and others at the 1910 International Socialist Woman’s Conference proposed that “a special Women’s Day” be organized annually. After women gained suffrage in Soviet Russia (1917), March 8 became a national holiday there.
The day was predominantly celebrated by the socialist movement and communist countries until it was adopted by the feminist movement in about 1967, and the United Nations in 1977.
Borrowing the colors of the 1908 Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU) in the UK, purple, green and white are the colors of International Women’s Day. Purple signifies justice and dignity; green symbolizes hope; and white represents purity (admittedly a controversial concept).
The theme for 2021 is #ChooseToChallenge. To show solidarity, strike the Choose To Challenge pose (see below) and share on social media using #ChooseToChallenge #IWD2021 to encourage others to commit to helping forge an inclusive world.
Want more ways to celebrate?
- celebrate women’s achievements
- raise awareness about women’s equality
- lobby for accelerated gender parity
- fundraise for female-focused charities
