Celebrate International Women’s Day Every Year on March 8
March 8 is International Women’s Day
March 8 is International Women’s Day. A day to celebrate all that women have achieved and all that they will achieve.
According to the day’s official website, it’s “a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women.”
The day has been around for more than 100 years, although it has only recently really gained popularity. It had a Socialist beginning, but in many places today politics no longer play a role (this is not true everywhere).
The movement to recognize women’s rights and their accomplishments started informally in 1908 with a march in New York City for better pay and working hours. And voting rights.
The U.S. held a National Woman’s Day the following year on February 28, 1909.
In 1910 Clara Zetkin proposed an International Women’s Day during the 2nd International Conference of Working Women. The women in attendance gave unanimous approval.
So the first International Women’s Day took place on March 19, 1911. Only 4 countries took part: Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland.
By 1914 the date had changed to March 8 and the day has been celebrated on that date ever since.
And it has grown to include many countries around the globe. In some, including Russia, Ukraine, Afghanistan and Cuba, it is an official holiday.
The United Nations started recognizing and sponsoring the day in 1975.
Scroll down for some ideas on celebrating this unofficial holiday.
How to Celebrate International Women’s Day
You can find many events around the world on this day.
From seminars to dinners, there’s a range of activities you can choose from. They’re put together by organizations as varied as schools, charities and even individuals who just want to help women achieve all they can.
And if there’s nothing near you, there are also online events you can be a part of.
Want to do more than sit and listen?
Donate to women’s causes. These help women and girls around the world:
- Dining for women
- She’s the First: Sponsors girls’ education in low-income countries.
- Women for Women International: Helps women in war-torn areas.
Or help more locally, by donating to your favorite women’s cause, charity or local shelter. Of course, always research any organization (global or local) before sending money.
Can’t donate money? Consider donating your time through volunteering.
Or get active and walk 10,000 steps a day for a week with Walk in Her Shoes. You’ll raise money to help improve women & girls’ lives.
You might also like to learn more about what it’s like to be female in poor and/or oppressed countries. The book I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban, written by Malala Yousafzai, is one good choice.
So is Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide, by New York Times journalist Nicholas D. Kristof. There’s also a movie based on the book.
Or watch Girl Rising, a documentary about the campaign to improve girls’ access to education.
Do you have any other ideas for celebrating International Women’s Day? Share!
[…] International Women’s Day: Celebrate the varied accomplishments of women throughout history. And help ensure women continue to have the freedom to achieve. Or, in some cases/countries, finally get real access to an education and the ability to choose their own paths. […]
[…] International Women’s Day: For this day we celebrate women and all they have achieved. And we recognize that despite their achievements, there are still places in the world where women & girls have to fight for even basic rights. […]