Yesterday was
International Women's Day, observed since the early 1900's which was a time of great expansion and turbulence in the industrialized world, a time of booming population growth and the rise of radical ideologies.
1908 was a time of great unrest and a time when critical debate was occurring amongst women. Women's oppression and inequality was spurring women to become more vocal and active in campaigning for change and in 1908 15,000 women marched through New York City demanding shorter hours, better pay and voting rights.
In 1909 in accordance with a declaration by the Socialist Party of America, the first National Woman's Day (NWD) was observed across the United States on 28 February.
Women continued to celebrate NWD on the last Sunday of February until 1913.
In 1910 a second International Conference of Working Women was held in Copenhagen.
Clara Zetkin (Leader of the 'Women's Office' for the Social Democratic Party in Germany) tabled the idea of an International Women's Day. She proposed that every year in every country there should be a celebration on the same day - a Women's Day - to press for their demands. Over a 100 women from 17 countries attended the conference, representing unions, socialist parties, working women's clubs, and included three of the first women elected to the Finnish parliament, Zetkin's suggestion were greeted with unanimous approval and thus International Women's Day was the result.
On March 19, 1911 following the decision agreed at Copenhagen, International Women's Day (IWD) was honoured for the first time in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland. More than one million women and men attended IWD rallies campaigning for women's rights to hold public office, work, vote and be trained and end discrimination. Less than a week later on March 25,a tragic event, the 'Triangle Fire' in New York City took the lives of more than 140 working women, most of whom were Italian and Jewish immigrants. This disastrous event drew significant attention to working conditions and labour legislation in the United States which became the focus of subsequent International Women's Day events.
1911 also gave rise to the women's '
Bread and Roses' campaign.
In 1913 on the eve of the World War I campaign for peace, Russian women observed their first International Women's Day on the last Sunday in February also in 1913, following discussions, International Women's Day was transferred to March 8th and this day has remained the global date for IWD ever since.
In 1914 women across Europe held rallies to campaign against the war and to express women's solidarity.
In 1917 on the last Sunday of February, Russian women began a strike for "bread and peace" in response to the death over 2 million Russian soldiers in the war. Opposed by political leaders the women continued to strike until four days later the Czar was forced to abdicate and the provisional Government granted women the right to vote. The date the women's strike commenced was Sunday 23 February.
Since its birth in the socialist movement, International Women's Day has grown to become a global day of recognition and celebration across developed and developing countries alike. For decades, IWD has grown annually. For many years the United Nations has held an annual IWD conference to coordinate international efforts for women's rights and participation in social, political and economic processes. 1975 was designated as 'International Women's Year' by the United Nations and Women's organisations and governments around the world have also observed IWD annually on March 8th, by holding large-scale events that honour women's advancement while reminding us of the continued vigilance and action required to ensure that women's equality is gained and maintained in all aspects of life.
In 2000 and beyond IWD is now an official holiday in China, Armenia, Russia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Vietnam. The tradition sees men honouring their mothers, wives, girlfriends, colleagues, etc with flowers and small gifts. In some countries IWD has the equivalent status of Mother's Day where children give small presents to their mothers and grandmothers.
The new millennium has witnessed a significant shift in attitutudes to both women's and society's thoughts about women's equality and emancipation. With more women in the boardroom, greater equality in legislative rights, and an increased critical mass of women's visibility as impressive role models in every aspect of life, one could think that women have gained true equality. The unfortunate fact is that women are still not paid equally to that of their male counterparts, women still are not present in equal numbers in business or politics, and globally women's education, health and the violence against them is worse than that of men.
I would like to take this moment to thank all those women who came before me and sacrificed, suffered, stood strong and gave women not only a voice but a true confidence and ability to believe that she is strong enough, capable enough and more importatly enabled to be a defining factor, in that she can stand up for her beliefs, stay the coarse, and 'be' the change..........in respect to Mother's, in support of ourselves, in hope for the future of daughters, sisters, friends...let's continue to work to give voice to and to stand up for that which we believe to be ultimate equality in each and every moment through all our future endeavours allowing for the right of everyone to be independant, self sufficient and able to be.........................To all of you who have given me support, encouragement, hope and belief along the way............Namaste
