The first National Women’s Day was observed in the U.S. on February 28, 1909. It was inspired by the New York garment workers' strike, where thousands of women protested for better wages, shorter hours, and voting rights.
The fight for women’s rights began much earlier. In 1848, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott organized the first women’s rights convention in New York. Stanton famously declared, “Women must make the voyage of life alone.”
In 1910, German activist Clara Zetkin proposed the idea of International Women’s Day at a global conference. By 1911, over a million people across Europe rallied for equal rights, voting power, and fair workplaces.
The date traces back to 1917, when Russian women protested against war and poverty. Their movement led to the Russian Revolution, securing women’s right to vote. Over time, March 8 became the official date for International Women’s Day.
In 1920, white women in the U.S. won the right to vote, but it wasn’t until 1965 that women of colour secured the same rights. Despite progress, the fight for equal pay, leadership roles, and workplace fairness continues.
In 2011, President Barack Obama declared March as Women’s History Month, recognizing women’s contributions. He emphasized that while progress has been made, full equality is still a goal.
International Women’s Day is more than just a celebration—it’s a movement. It reminds us to keep pushing for gender equality, fair wages, and leadership opportunities.
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