International Women’s Day: why is it commemorated on March 8?

International Women’s Day is commemorated around the world every March 8. This special date was formalized by the United Nations in 1975 to highlight the struggle of women for equality, the recognition and effective exercise of their rights. On this day, various activities such as marches and demonstrations are carried out to make visible the difficult situation that women face in the face of the growing wave of femicides and gender violence.

This date, in the words of the UN“refers to ordinary women as the creator of history and has its roots in the centuries-old struggle of women to participate in society on an equal footing with men”.

Despite having become a global day in favor of equality, many people still wonder what its origin is and what led to the March 8 get this international recognition? To explain it, you have to look back: to the protests that led to a revolution that occurred at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th.

MARCH 8: ORIGIN OF INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY

On March 8, 1908, a momentous event marked the history of labor and union struggle not only in the United States, but throughout the world. A fire at the Cotton factory in New York gave rise to the tribute.

The selection in the calendar was established to honor the 129 women who died on March 8, 1908 in a fire at the Cotton textile factory in the United States, in the context of a union fight.

The workers were on strike with permanence in the place in demand for the establishment of a 10-hour workday and a salary equal to that of the men who carried out the same tasks. The owner of the place closed the doors of the building and they were trapped in the fire.

Then, on May 3 of that same year, the first act for “Women’s Day” was held in Chicago, until it was established on March 8.

On May 3 of that same year, they held an act for Women’s Day in Chicago, and some socialists such as Corinne Brown and Gertrude Breslau Hunt were present. This served as a prelude to the February 28, 1909 New York celebrated for the first time the “National Women’s Day”, in charge of 15,000 women who marched for the same reasons.

In 1910, the II International Conference of Socialist Women was held in Copenhagen, where the central theme was universal suffrage for all women, and at the proposal of Clara Zetkin, leader of the “uprising of 20,000”, it was proclaimed on March 8. as the International Day of Working Women.

In 1977 the UN General Assembly officially proclaimed March 8 the International Day for Women’s Rights and International Peace.

Years later, in 2011, the centenary of International Women’s Day was celebrated, and in addition, the UN entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) began to operate.

Since the officialization of “International Women’s Day”, this day and on the previous and following dates, in all cities of the world there are marches, meetings and strikes or a cessation of activities to demand equal rights that are still pending.

OFFICIAL PROCLAMATION OF INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY

In 1975, the United Nations Organization (UN) coincided with the celebration of International Women’s Day on March 8. Two years later, in 1977, the UN General Assembly invited countries to proclaim, according to their historical traditions and customs, one day of the year as “United Nations Day for Women’s Rights and International Peace”. ”. Many countries agreed, except the United States.

However, it is thanks to the actions of Polish actress Beata Poznik that the International Women’s Day In the United States it is celebrated on March 8.

MARCH 8: FIGHT FOR EQUAL RIGHTS

Currently, women face a growing wave of femicides and gender violence, in addition to an unequal panorama of rights that still needs to be resolved. Here are some data that show the reality of women in the world.

• 2.7 billion women cannot access the same job options as men.
• In 2019, less than 25% of parliamentarians were women.
• One in three women continues to suffer gender violence.
• Of the 500 people in CEO positions leading the world’s highest-income companies, less than 7% are women.
• In the 92-year history of the Oscars, only five women have been nominated in the Best Director category; of the five, only one won the award (Kathryn Bigelow).
• And until 2086 the wage gap will not be closed if the current trend is not counteracted.