Story Behind International Women's Day Celebration

International women’s day - what does it stand for? Why is it observed? And what is the story behind it? And why is womens day celebration so important?

Well, then, brace yourself as we take a journey back in time to explore the many facets of what it means and most importantly, what it meant to be a WOMAN.

The international women’s day celebrates the social, cultural, political and economic achievements of women. It marks the onset of gender parity and calls forward each of us to take observance of the many challenges and strides taken by women globally.

But it still does not tell you the story behind this celebration. So, allow us…

Story of women’s day:

Let’s start the story of a major revolutionary stride. Let us travel back in time…

1908

It was the time of great unrest. Women started coming together to oppose oppression and inequality. 15,000 women marched the New York City to demand for shorter work hours, better pay scale and their right to cast votes.

1909

To enable women and give them strength, the very first National Women’s Day was started to be observed on the 28th of February across the USA. This was in accordance with the Socialist Party Of America.

1910

In the year 1910 a second International Conference of Working Women was held in Copenhagen where Clara Zetkin, the leader of the 'Women's Office' for Social Democratic Party in Germany, tabled the idea of observing International Women's Day.

1911

International Women's Day was honored for the very first time in the following countries - Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland. The celebratory date was on 19th March.

According to the available data, more than a million individuals attended the International Women’s Day rallies. They campaigned for women's rights. Some of their demands were for work, vote, and holding public office rights, alongside the goal to end all forms of discrimination.

1913-1914

With the onset of World War I, Russian women campaigned for peace as they observed their very first International Women's Day on 23rd February - the last Sunday of that month. After a discussion, 8th of March was decided to be marked as the annual International Women's Day due to its conversion from the Gregorian calendar. In the year 1914, women across various countries in Europe held rallies as a campaign against the war as well as an expression for women's solidarity.

1975

In the year 1975, the International Women's Day was officially marked by the United Nations. The General Assembly adopted the following resolution of proclaiming a United Nations Day for Women’s Rights and International Peace.

1996

The first annual theme of women’s day was coined - "Celebrating the past, Planning for the Future". Here are the other themes that followed 1997 - "Women at the Peace table", 1998 - "Women and Human Rights", 1999 - "World Free of Violence Against Women". Since then,each year new themes have been coined in honor of International Women’s Day

2000

By the start of the new millennium, there was limited mainstream activity occurring for International Women's Day in most countries. Feminism was unfortunately not a popular topic. However, that was about to change!

With years of changes and striving to make those happen, women all over the world have battled inequality. So cherishing the ladies in your life with thoughtful womens day gifts is the basic essential.