International women’s day is an event that commemorates the achievements of women. It celebrates their political, economic and social accomplishments - while also calling for gender equality.
The event is celebrated all around the globe with performances, talks, conferences and marches. However, this year will inevitably look a little different. Despite the pandemic, this year’s events will proceed virtually.
This year has brought many challenges for women, with many on the frontline against our on-going battle with covid-19. From working in hospitals, balancing a full-time job and home-schooling, to taking on more domestic roles at home. Yet, women get paid 11 per cent less globally than their male co-workers. An analysis of covid-19 task teams from 87 countries found only 3.5 per cent of them had equal pay.
"Everything we worked for, that has taken 25 years, could be lost in a year," says UN Women Deputy Executive Director Anita Bhatia. She adds that the care burden poses a "real risk of reverting to 1950s gender stereotypes.” This reiterates the aims of the Telegraph’s Equality Check campaign, which launched in June to shed a light on the lockdown gender gap.
This year has been tough, with rising numbers in unemployment and domestic abuse. Even though it is not possible to rally together in person. It is important to look back at the history of international women’s day with pride and determination.
This day of celebration was first formed a century ago and there are still countless reasons to mark it in 2021.
When is International Women’s Day?
International Women’s Day has been celebrated since the early 1900s and is now marked each year on March 8.
The day wasn’t formally recognised until the war-time strike in 1917 when Russian women demanded "bread and peace.” Four days into the strike the government granted women the right to vote. This day in the Gregorian calendar was 8 March and that's the date it is celebrated today.
How did International Women’s Day start?
The first National Woman’s Day was acknowledged in the United States of America on February 28, 1909. The idea to make the day international came from a Ukraine-born suffragist called Clara Zetkin. Clara demanded better pay, shorter working hours and improved working conditions for the 15000 garment labourers who went on strike in New York. The next year, The Socialist Party of America announced the first National Women’s Day in honour of these workers.
Clara suggested the idea to make it an international day in 1910 at an International Conference of Working Women in Copenhagen. It was first celebrated in 1911, in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland. However, it was only until 1975 when the United Nations started celebrating the day.
International Women’s day started to gain more recognition around the time of the #MeToo movement. Ever since, the day of celebration is acknowledged by millions of people, businesses and charities around the world.
What is the theme for International Women’s day 2021?
The official theme for 2021 is "Choose to Challenge", representing the need to speak out about gender bias and inequality.
The UN announced that their theme for this year is "Women in leadership: Achieving an equal future in a Covid-19 world".
How will International Women's Day be celebrated this year?
Despite the pandemic, there are still many ways that you can get involved.
This year’s official theme is Choose To Challenge so organisers of the day are asking people to take a picture with their hands held high and share it on social media to show their support for the cause. Some of the chosen submissions will be featured on the International Women’s Day website and social media. You can also download the #ChooseToChallenge selfie cards.
Celebrating international women day in the UK is usually commemorated with marches - the main one being the March4Women in London. There are also other events around the UK.
This year's #March4Women, organised by CARE International, will be taking place as an online day of action.
Each country has a unique way to celebrate the day. In many countries, March 8 is an official holiday such as in Afghanistan, Belarus, Cambodia, China (for women only), Cuba and more.
In the United States, March is recognised as Women's History Month. A presidential proclamation is delivered every year to shine a light on the achievements of American women and girls.
This year will look a little different because of coronavirus and more virtual events are expected to take place around the world, including from the UN.
What colours symbolise International Women's Day?
The official colours of the day are purple, green and white.
"Purple signifies justice and dignity. Green symbolizes hope. White represents purity, albeit a controversial concept. The colours originated from the Women's Social and Political Union in the UK in 1908," states the official IWD website.
Empowering International Women’s Day quotes
Another way we can celebrate the day is by empowering yourself and the women around you with inspirational feminist quotes.
Here are 15 quotes to remind your sister, wife, mother, best friend and yourself how wonderful you are.
- “To tell a woman everything she cannot do is to tell her what she can.” –Spanish Proverb
- “Well-behaved women rarely make history.” –Eleanor Roosevelt
- “Women are the largest untapped reservoir of talent in the world.” –Hillary Clinton
- “A girl should be two things: Who and what she wants.” –Coco Chanel
- “She wasn’t looking for a knight. She was looking for a sword.” –Atticus
- “Above all, be the heroine of your life. Not the victim.” –Nora Ephron
- “Girls should never be afraid to be smart.” –Emma Watson
- “Life is tough, my darling, but so are you.” –Stephanie Bennett-Henry
- “If you obey all the rules, you miss all the fun.” –Katherine Hepburn
- “She believed she could, so she did.” –Unknown
- “If you want something said, ask a man. If you want something done, ask a woman.” –Margaret Thatcher
- “A woman with a voice is by definition a strong woman. But the search to find that voice can be remarkably difficult.” –Melinda Gates
- “The most beautiful thing a woman can wear is confidence.” –Blake Lively
- “I want every girl to know that her voice can change the world.” –Malala
- “Nothing can dim the light which shines from within.” –Maya Angelou
This video is created in honour of #WomensHistoryMonth, and shows some of the most notable firsts by women.
In the last year, the world searched for “the first woman” more than ever before. From the first woman to break the sound barrier to all of those continuing to break the glass ceiling. See the video below.