In 2015 the World Economic Forum estimated that it will take until the year 2133 to achieve gender parity on a global basis. International Women’s Day, celebrated March 8, marks what the IWD website calls “a call to action for accelerating gender parity,” with a campaign theme #PledgeForParity. Although the day celebrates women’s economic, social, political and cultural achievements, it also seeks to draw attention to potential offered by women to economies worldwide. International Women’s Day also takes the opportunity to draw attention to the struggles of women throughout the world, and the ongoing gender gap in pay and opportunities.
Women’s Day was celebrated for the first time on Feb. 28, 1909, in New York. Two years later a German socialist named Luise Zietz presented the proposal to make the day an annual observation celebrating women’s issues like suffrage, in an attempt to promote equal rights for women. The first few Women’s Days involved hundreds of demonstrations that took place in European countries, with women demanding the right to vote and hold public office, as well as drawing attention to employment sex discrimination. Women’s Day demonstrations in 1917 in Saint Petersburg, Russia, helped start the February Revolution with women marching through the city and demanding an end to World War I.
The day was mainly celebrated in socialist countries until 1977. It did not gain worldwide popularity until the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed March 8 to be International Women’s Day.
The goals of IWD include helping women and girls achieve their ambitions, challenging biases, calling for gender-based leadership, valuing everyone’s contributions equally and creating inclusive and flexible cultures.
There are over 1,000 events organized globally for International Women’s Day that offer opportunities to learn about what women’s lives are like in various places around the world. The IWD website offers a search page for locating a local event.