Do you know when Women’s Day was first celebrated and what is the importance of Women’s Day? It was celebrated on 19 March 1911 for the first time to promote equal rights for women. The female attendees, who represented 17 nations and included Finland’s first three female MPs, unanimously endorsed it. In 1913 the date was set as March 8 to celebrate women’s day. It was originally observed by the United Nations in 1975. This day represents the equality of the female gender. Women Should have equal rights because they are the architects of successful nations. In this article, we will tell you about International Women’s Day.
Importance Of Women’s Day
It is a day on which women celebrate their accomplishments regardless of national, cultural, economic, or political boundaries.
Since those early years, women in both rich and developing nations now celebrate International Women’s Day on a global scale. The celebration has served for increasing support for women’s rights and involvement in political and economic spheres. Thanks to the expanding worldwide women’s movement, which has been bolstered by four United Nations women’s conferences on a global scale.
On International Women’s Day, we pause to consider the achievements of women, demand change, and honor both the bravery and tenacity of everyday women who have made tremendous contributions to their societies.
History demonstrates that societies are fairer, economies are more likely to develop, and governments are more likely to meet the needs of all their citizens when women and girls have access to opportunities. On this day schools and colleges organize functions to appreciate the women and students prepare Women’s Day Speeches to give tribute to all the women. If you are trying to find speeches in English for Women’s Day you can check my previous article which will help you to give gratitude to all women with special words.
Why Is International Women’s Day in March?
Women demanded national equality rights in the early 1900s. The movement heavily emphasized gathering for meetings, marches, and rallies. Sundays became the preferred day because there was less disruption to work and household responsibilities. As a result, joining marches, meetings, and demonstrations became simpler for women.
The final Sunday in February saw the first significant gathering in support of women’s rights in the United States. Women around the world started using that day to advocate for equality in their nations.
Movement leaders were in charge of choosing a definite date because any particular Sunday corresponded to a different date on each of the two calendars used in the 1900s, Julian and Gregorian. Established figures changed the Julian calendar’s final Sunday, February 23, to the Gregorian calendar, designating March 8 as International Women’s Day everywhere.
Why does International Women’s Day matter?
International Women’s Day (IWD) serves as a reminder of both how far we’ve come in the direction of gender equality and how far we still have to go. In 1911, there were only eight nations that permitted women to vote, there were no reproductive rights, and equal pay for equal work was unheard of.
We have made great progress. Women now lead countries, although historically they were not allowed to vote. We used to have constraints on where women could work, but today women are in charge of corporations. Women now have rights in nations like Australia that our grandmothers could only have imagined, yet women still don’t have full equality. And most women around the world aren’t even close to achieving that goal as we are.
That inaugural march, which took place more than a century ago, called for an end to exploitation, equal rights, and unfavorable working conditions. Sadly, such objectives still apply today.
What is the purpose of Women’s Day?
The goals of International Women’s Day are to raise awareness of the problems and injustices that impact women all over the world, honor women’s accomplishments, and start conversations about how to bring about good change via equity and equality. It all comes down to working together to make a difference.
The purpose of International Women’s Day is not to disparage men. You don’t need to elevate anyone else to elevate yourself. Gender equality, which includes equality for men, women, non-binary persons, and everyone in between, is the focus of International Women’s Day.
In fact, some prefer to refer to IWD as “Civil Awareness Day,” “Anti-Discrimination Day,” or “Anti-Sexism Day” in order to expand its appeal beyond those who self-identify as women.
Reasons To Celebrate International Women’s Day
The globe celebrates International Women’s Day on March 8. It’s a time to honor all the achievements of women. Why is this important? thirteen reasons follow:
1. The day Highlights the Work of Women For the Nation
While celebrating the progress made in advancing women’s rights and gender equality. International Women’s Day is also a time to reflect on the work that remains to be done. According to the UN, women account for 70% of the 1.3 billion people living in poverty worldwide. Eighty percent of people who are displaced by climate-related disasters are women and girls.
Things got worse for women and girls as a result of the pandemic. According to a study that appeared in The Lancet, women had worse social and economic repercussions than men. Reversing the impacts will need a focused effort.
2. Opportunity to Raise Funds For Women’s
When International Women’s Day occurs, it’s a terrific chance to give to reputable organizations that support women’s rights and gender equality. International groups like Amnesty International and Global Grassroots are just a few of the options available. If you wish to donate or spread the word about a fundraising event, check your local area as many community organizations and activists prepare specific campaigns for IWD.
3. It is a call to action
IWD is significant because, at its core, it is a call to action. some use it to advocate for a pessimistic worldview, it serves as a crucial reminder that advancement isn’t something that just happens. The world’s celebrated victories and accomplishments weren’t all that simple to achieve, but they show what is possible. International Women’s Day serves as a call to action, encouraging us to reflect on our progress thus far and continue pursuing new goals.
4. Opportunity for schools and organizations to provide education
While gender equality and women’s rights are always crucial subjects to learn about, international days offer chances for more concentrated instruction and awareness. A concentrated influx of information and education that is not typically present occurs when a particular day is observed. Schools can conduct events, workshops, and other collaborations or locate materials online.
Any group can use IWD to concentrate on the women’s rights that are most important to their goal. For instance, a clothing company could promote measures to better the treatment of female workers as well as education on the history of exploitation in the garment industry.
5. 1 in 3 women will experience violence
The World Health Organization estimates women will endure physical or sexual abuse at some point in their lives. Domestic violence cases increased dramatically as a result of countrywide lockdowns, a phenomenon the UN dubbed the “shadow pandemic.” Domestic abuse hotlines received 40% more calls during the pandemic in Malaysia, 50% more in China and Somalia, and a staggering 79% more in Colombia.
6. 72 countries don’t allow women to open a bank account
Some nations, like Saudi Arabia, forbid women from opening bank accounts or receiving credit without a guardian’s consent, while others demand that a woman can use financial services.
More studies from The World Bank reveal that only 65% of women have bank accounts, compared to 72% of males, even in regions where women are not subject to these limitations. Some nations are making a major attempt, such as India, where current statistics show that 83% of men and 77% of women already have bank accounts.
7. Connects people from around the world
IWD is a day to honor worldwide activists and raise awareness of their efforts and the difficulties they encounter. Additionally, it’s a fantastic chance to network and make connections with supporters of gender equality. Social media has made it much simpler than in the past to connect on a global scale. IWD connections can result in long-term partnerships, friendships, and financial assistance.
8. 1 in 10 Women have Self-harmed Because of Their Body Image
A survey by MHF found that 10% of women have self-harmed because they have felt self-conscious about their appearance. In a related study, King’s University discovered that 87% of women make unfavorable comparisons between their bodies and the images they see on social and conventional media. By enticing people to make a commitment to support body positivity, campaigns like “Be Real” are attempting to fight problems with body image.
9. Fewer Leadership Positions than Men in the Sector
We have all been made acutely aware of how dependent we are on the key personnel who manage our healthcare systems by the coronavirus outbreak. Women make up the majority of workers in this industry globally, although they are underrepresented in leadership positions and earn less than males do. What’s worse is that a lot of the early PPE was made to fit men, which exposed women on the front lines to the virus unnecessarily.
According to Equal Rights Advocates, women in the United States earn 82 cents for every dollar earned by a white man doing the same work. Additionally, the same organization discovered that things are significantly worse for other groups. For every dollar a white guy makes, black women make 62 cents, Native American women make 60 cents, and Latinas make 55 cents.
10. Domestic work as Men
Women have been forced to shoulder the majority of the extra domestic workload. as a result of the spike in homeschooling caused by lockdowns. Women already did three times as much housework and unpaid care as men did before the epidemic, whether it be caring for children, running the household, cooking, or cleaning. Data from 16 sources have revealed that during COVID-19, mothers with children at home spent 31 hours per week on childcare, up from 26 hours prior.
11. Women face Higher Poverty Rates than Men
It is not surprising that women experience higher rates of poverty than males due to the several variables already mentioned on this list, including pay inequality, unpaid work, unemployment, and the gender education gap. According to research by American Progress, 12.9% of women in the US lived in poverty in 2018, with percentages that were highest among Native American women, Native Alaskan women, Black women, and women of Hispanic ancestry.
12. Girls are still the Most Discriminated Against
Violence, domestic labor, poverty, child marriage, and pregnancy all affect a girl’s ability to attend school. In many societies, they neglect the education of girls due to ignorance and lack of education. The education of women is necessary to build their features and make them strong to face the problem of life. We are aware that education is essential for development and one of the most effective strategies for ending the cycle of gender inequality and poverty. But courageous girls all throughout the world are fighting for an education.
13. Opportunity to Reflect on your own Life
Because of the long history of discrimination against women in our society, biases can exist in everyone, whether they are conscious of them or not. On International Women’s Day, you have the chance to consider your own values and create a unique action plan. Consider any areas in which you may lack knowledge or may harbor prejudices based on things like gender, sexual orientation, color, and so forth. Make a commitment to increasing your level of awareness while educating yourself using books, classes, or other resources.
Why do we need it?
Why we still need to commemorate International Women’s Day in 2023 is typically the first and maybe the only question people have about it. And, if you must inquire, you haven’t been following the news or the status of the world, to be honest. Even so, there have been notable advancements, particularly when it comes to women in positions of leadership around the globe.
Examples include the election of Kamala Harris as the first female, Black, and Asian-American vice president in the US, Sania Suluhu, Tanzania’s first female president, and Xiomara Castro, Honduras’ first female president, who took office earlier this year. Of course, there have also been some notable advancements in the area of women’s rights. But there is still a long way to go.
How can we support IWD and what are the missions?
Making sure women feel secure and included in the workplace is a key component of IWD. In a world where just six nations grant women equal employment rights and 35% of women in corporate sector jobs report experiencing sexual harassment. It is critical for businesses to make their workplaces as inclusive as possible.
Not just for female employees but for all other employees of various racial, sexual, and ethnic backgrounds. We still urge women to defy expectations and carry on the traditions of great technological inventors since there have been many women who have influenced technology, such as Grace Hopper, who created the computer and compilers.
IWD’s sole remaining goal is to promote female empowerment. Since the early days when the Suffragettes fought for the right to vote, International Women’s Day has encouraged women to pursue their aspirations and work toward their goals without being concerned about prejudice or other social hurdles.
We must utilize this day to reflect on our efforts to ensure that women in our community enjoy the same freedoms as men, in addition to giving gifts of flowers and chocolates to people we value. All of us are at threat when one woman’s right to live in a free and equal society is in jeopardy, therefore we’ll keep fighting for that right as long as it exists.