UN officially recognized March 8 as International Women's Day (IWD) in 1977, with its roots tracing back to the 1st National Woman's Day in the US in 1909, celebrating women's fight for rights
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The 1909 event commemorated the 1908 garment workers' strike in New York, where 15,000 women demanded shorter hours, better pay, and voting rights, an early push for women's rights.
IWD initially aligned with the First Wave of Feminism, advocating for voting rights, equal pay, and other fundamental issues for women.
Early American feminists Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott spearheaded women's rights movements in the mid-19th century, advocating for equal opportunities.
In 1910, Clara Zetkin proposed International Women's Day to unify global demands for women's rights, leading to the first rallies in 1911 with significant participation across Europe.
March 8 became synonymous with IWD following a pivotal 1917 protest by Russian women, which contributed to the Russian Revolution and significant political change, including women's suffrage.
In 2011, the Obama administration declared March as 'Women’s History Month,' recognizing the historical struggle and achievements of women.
IWD is a global reminder of the progress toward gender equality and the work that remains to ensure full parity for women.