Friday, March 8, marks International Women’s Day, a yearly global celebration honoring women’s social, economic, cultural, and political achievements. It’s also a day to raise awareness about gender equality and advocate for women’s rights worldwide. With a rich history spanning over a century, this day serves as a reminder of the progress made and the work still ahead for women to achieve true equality.
Like many movements, the path to equality and recognition is constructed of a series of events and actions. The start of the 20th century brought economic opportunities for more people, including women. And as their contributions and participation in daily society increased, so did their calls for equality. In 1908, 15,000 women took up signs and marched through New York City, demanding better pay, shorter hours, and the right to vote. A year later, the first National Women’s Day was observed in the United States. The following year, Clara Zetkin, a women’s activist from Germany, proposed a day to press for women’s demands at the second international conference of socialist women in Copenhagen. A year later, the first International Women’s Day was celebrated. But it would be another 60 years before the United Nations began celebrating the day in 1975.
Trailblazers
This list is just a small sampling of women working towards a more inclusive and just world.
- Byllye Y. Avery has dedicated her life to fighting for reproductive healthcare and access, especially for Black women.
- Malala Yousafzai is a female education activist in Pakistan and the youngest Nobel Peace Prize laureate.
- Dolores Huerta co-founded the United Farmworkers Association, is a leader of the Chicano civil rights movement, and is considered one of the most influential 20th-century labor activists.
- America Ferrera has championed women’s and Latino rights, founding several groups to encourage voting and the power of storytelling to invoke societal change.
- Coretta Scott King, with her husband, Dr. Martin Luther King, played a major role in the civil rights movement and used her platform to speak out against apartheid and support LGBTQIA+ rights.
- Jane Fonda has been championing civil, women’s, and environmental rights since the 1970s.
- Winona LaDuke founded and co-chaired the Indigenous Women’s Network, which is dedicated to empowering and uplifting Indigenous women, and co-founded Honor the Earth, a native environmental advocacy organization.
- Sara Mardini is a Syrian former competitive swimmer who rescued refugees crossing from Turkey to Greece and is currently on trial for “migrant smuggling.” Netflix made a movie about her life called “The Swimmers.”
- Nadia Murad is an Iraqi Yazidi human rights activist who is an advocate for women living in areas of conflict and survivors of sexual violence and provides advocacy and assistance to victims of genocide.
Making Strides
Women have made huge strides. Still, they continue to struggle for equality. One of the greatest factors for empowerment is education. Access to quality education ensures women the ability to develop the skills and knowledge necessary to pursue their goals and contribute to society freely. However, in many parts of the world, girls still face barriers to education, including poverty, cultural norms, and discrimination. Additionally, women have made great strides in the workplace, but they still face wage gaps and systemic discrimination. Finally, healthcare remains a critical issue globally. Sexual and reproductive health rights, maternal health, and mental health support are lacking or nonexistent in some countries.
International Women’s Day is a time to celebrate the achievements of women, reflect on progress made, and renew our commitment to gender equality. Honor the trailblazers who have and continue to pave the way for future generations and recognize the challenges women continue to face worldwide.