Why International Women’s Day March 8 is Important

You’re not alone if you haven’t heard of International Women’s Day (IWD). Many people, especially women, aren’t even aware that it exists, let alone know what it means and why it’s important to remember every year on March 8. IWD is an annual celebration recognizing the contributions of women throughout history and across the globe to society — and it’s essential to remember this day each year, both in our personal lives and in our businesses, because there are so many ways that women make things better in the world.

History of International Women’s Day

March 8 was first commemorated as International Working Women’s Day in 1911. As men across America and Western Europe went on strike, women left their homes to support them by taking over their jobs, thus illustrating their vital importance to society. As time went on, International Women’s Day would become associated with honoring women worldwide. In 1975, The United Nations officially made March 8 a worldwide holiday that honors women’s economic, political and social achievements. But more importantly, it serves as a reminder of how far we still have to go in creating equality for women worldwide. IWD may be a day that passed, but its message rings actual year-round: making progress takes effort. Each of us has a vital role in improving gender parity — both at home and abroad — by not just celebrating women each IWD but working towards gender equality every day until it becomes a reality everywhere. So let’s get to work! Celebrate IWD however you like — whether with friends or family or on your own! Just remember to raise your voice through activism throughout each year too. We all need to keep shouting about gender inequality because progress doesn’t happen overnight. It takes hard work every single day!

Celebrate International Women’s Day

Many people don’t realize that March 8 isn’t just another day off — it’s a day to celebrate and promote gender equality. The holiday was started in 1975 by a collective of women’s groups as an occasion to reflect on how far women had come since 1857 when New York first held its celebration of Working Women. Over time, it has become a global movement centered around social justice for women, promoting their economic development and empowerment. To acknowledge that progress, consider buying your favorite woman in your life flowers (no one says you can only do it on March 8), or even just telling her you to appreciate all she does for you and your family. Every day should be International Women’s Day!

No Limits, No Ceilings — Gender Equality By 2030

Progress has indeed been made for women and girls over the last decade. However, even as more women can participate in higher education and join male-dominated fields like medicine, engineering, and law previously, gender inequality still exists — it still holds us back. We see it in boardrooms across America, where only 5% of corporate boards have women members. We see it in media where fewer than 20% of news stories feature a woman or girl as the main character. And we see it in families where only 1 out of 3 girls believe they can do anything if they try compared to 4 out of 5 boys who feel that way — which contributes to a gender gap in household income by $11,000 per year. While there’s still a long way to go before gender equality reaches every community worldwide, let today be a reminder that we’re committed to making sure there aren’t any limits on what women can achieve! Today and every day — let’s celebrate everything remarkable about women and girls. And let’s make sure their voices keep being heard around family dinner tables, in classrooms, workplaces, governments — wherever decisions are being made. Let’s be their voice. Because when you educate a woman — you educate a nation!

Participate in International Women’s Day Activities in 2022

Inevitably, however, IWD won’t happen on March 8. To help fix that problem, several governments have started to set aside a day in March to honor women. And so far, more than 50 countries worldwide now officially recognize IWD. This year, for example, South Korea has declared March 8 as National Women’s Day and has pledged to eliminate all forms of gender inequality by 2030. That sounds pretty wonderful. Let’s try to make it happen! Happy International Women’s Day, everyone. Hope you get your dream job or anything else you wish for today! Keep fighting for equality, women — we need you!

Stand up against gender inequality today.

As we recognize women’s accomplishments, it’s essential to remember how far we still have to go. According to a study from Harvard University, gender discrimination starts as early as age 6, when girls start to doubt their abilities in math and science. Another study by Catalyst revealed that fewer than 5% of tech startups had female founders — and they received only 4% of all venture capital funding. However small these numbers are, they still matter: Studies suggest women who are treated differently early on feel less confident and less qualified for leadership positions later in life, resulting in fewer women applying for executive-level jobs. In 2015, Fortune 500 companies had more men than women on their boards, yet having a diverse board leads to higher returns and lower risk.