Women, it’s time to celebrate being us! Yes, 8th March is International Women’s Day; a day when the world honours the contribution women have made to industry and society as well as at home and in the workplace.
This year’s theme is DigitALL: Innovation and Technology for Gender Equality. The United Nations and the UN, both of whom promote and champion International Women’s Day, are calling on governments, businesses, industries and activists, as well as every woman and girl, to join together and make our digital world not only safer, but more equitable and inclusive, too.
But what does International Women’s Day represent, where did it all start and why is it the same date every year?
How did International Women’s Day start?
International Women’s Day (IWD) came from a labour movement when 15,000 women marched through the city of New York in 1908. They were demanding shorter working hours, a right to vote and better pay. Just a year later, the Socialist Party of America founded the first National Women’s Day. It wasn’t until a young woman called Clara Zetkin who was an advocate for women’s rights, suggested making it an international day at the International Conference of Working Women in 1910. In Copenhagen that day, 100 women from 17 countries agreed with Clara and International Women’s Day was first celebrated in Austria, Germany, Denmark and Switzerland.
It was made official when the United Nations celebrated the day in 1975, adopting the first theme in 1996 (“Celebrating the Past, Planning for the Future”), and its centenary was in 2011 – yes, it’s been going for over 100 years!
Looking back over the years, International Women’s Day is celebrating just how far women have come across society, in politics and economics. But why 8th March and why do women wear purple?
Why 8th March?
Originally there wasn’t a fixed date but in 1917, Russian women went on strike in war time, demanding bread and peace. Four days into the strike, the Tsar was forced to abdicate and the incoming provisional government gave the women the right to vote. In the Gregorian calendar, this day was 8th March.
Why wear the colour purple?
The colours of IWD are purple, green and white – purple stands for justice and dignity; green means hope and white represents purity. Most people adopt purple as it has the strongest resonance for many women.
How is International Women’s Day celebrated around the world?
Different countries celebrate IWD in different ways and in some, it is a national holiday. For example, in Russia, it is a holiday and flower sales double in the three or four days around 8th March.
In China, a lot of women get a half day off work, if approved by the State Council. In Italy, IWD is known as la Festa della Donna and is celebrated by giving mimosa blossoms.
In the United States, where it all started, March is Women’s History Month and a presidential proclamation is issued every year that honours American women’s achievements.
In a sector that has been so male dominated over the years, they are often underrepresented in STEM education, and they are often squeezed out from advancing careers, being perceived as a threat.
Current statistics don’t make happy reading:
- Only 22% of women work in artificial intelligence globally.
- A global analysis of 133 AI systems across all industries found that 44% of them were gender biassed towards men.
- A survey of women journalists from 125 countries showed that 73% of them had suffered online violence in the course of their work.
IWD is calling for greater recognition, acceptance and inclusion of women in the digital landscape, allowing them to create a better future, not just for women and girls, but for everyone worldwide. Everyone, no matter their gender, can make a difference by embracing equality.
Really Helpful Club champions women and empowerment at home, in the workplace and stepping out on an entrepreneurial journey. Our fabulous 15,000+ community is all about helping and supporting each other every step of the way.We have an abundance of useful resources, a fabulous list of amazing events, online and in-person to guide you on a business and home front, as well as our wonderful Directory members who are always on hand with the best in great tips, advice and guidance. Whatever you’re looking for or need help with, we’re confident we’ve got just the person or resource for you.
