Most people think that International Women’s Day is a day that we observe to thank women around the world for their dedication towards their respective role in their family, workforce, as well as the society. If you share this same thought, you’re mostly right. The truth is, International Women’s Day carries far more significance than that.
International Women’s Day is also a day for us to remind ourselves fight for gender parity.
This year, the theme for International Women’s Day is #PressforProgress.
According to the International Women’s Day website, they strongly argues that now, more than ever, there’s a strong call-to-action to press forward and progress gender parity. There’s a strong call to #PressforProgress motivating and uniting friends, colleagues and whole communities to think, act and be gender inclusive.”
In our aim to expand our reader’s understanding towards different causes which are observed around the world, we have put together a jam-packed info sheet which helps you to understand about the celebration of International Women’s Day:
#1 It’s Origins
1909– The first National Women’s Day started in New York, organized by The Socialist Party of America. As over 100 women from 17 countries decided to establish a worldwide celebration day to press for working women’s demands, International Women’s Day was formed. It was established at the second International Conference of Working Women in Copenhagen.
1917– Demonstrations by women demanding for “bread and peace” triggered other strikes and protests. It was then led to the abdication of Czar Nicholas II and granted women’s equal rights and suffrage.
1913– The International Women’s Day was proposed to move it to March 8. Since then, it became a more popular public holiday.
2001– The website and annual theme for International Women’s Day was started with #BeBoldForChange theme encouraged public to commit in fighting for women equality and in the workplace.
#2 Aims
The main reason of celebrating International Women’s Day was to propose and achieve gender equality for women whether in workplace, politics or businesses. Based on The Sun, a UK based online news article, the gender pay gap still exists in UK, women earns up to 14% less than men. The Sun also stated that the World Economic Forum found in 2017 that at the current rate of progress the global gender gap will take 100 years to close.
#3 Day Without A Woman
In last year, the activists organised an event named “A Day Without a Woman” strike. Basically, on this day, woman will take day off from work, avoid shopping, and wear red gathered at Central Park, New York. Of course, this is not just doing for the sake of doing, men are encouraged to show support by doing house chores, and taking care of their children. It also tried to promote family-friendly workplace which women can apply for paid leave and flexible working hours. By having this “A Day Without A Woman” event, organizers wished to show the public the importance of having a woman at home or in a workplace. Hence, all of us should treat women equally.
To accomplish any of these stated above, people around the world must create awareness on International Women’s Day. Whether or not we are facing the gender inequality in our surrounding, we should be aware of this. Feel free to comment below for anything more about International Women’s Day that you would like to share with us!
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