Since the beginning of the early 20th century International Women's Day has been an annual event to give recognition to the strides women have made to declare their rights. This year is the 100th year to celebrate IWD. Officially started on March 19th in Germany, Austria, Denmark, and Switzerland, IWD was a day that men and women - of all races and age - met to rally, march, and campaign for their rights. In 1913 the date was set to March 8th and it has remained this was for the past 97 years. IWD is now an official holiday in more than 25 countries around the globe! The United States even declares March as "Women's History Month"!
There are several traditions that take place every year on IWD. Many countries choose a specific theme for each year. The UN chose the IWD 2011 theme to be "Equal access to education, training and science and technology: Pathway to decent work for women" (past themes have included 2009's "Women and men united to end violence against women and girls", 2004's "Women and HIV/AIDS", 1996's "Celebrating the Past, Planning for the Future". Another tradition is a message on IWD written by the Secretary-General (can be viewed here: http://www.un.org/en/events/women/iwd/2011/sg_message_2011.shtml). The theme and message are something many women look forward to every year. And though they are part of what makes IWD so interesting, it's the events that take place on March 8th that make IWD so exciting.
Schools, governments, charities, corporations, women's groups, and even just individuals from all over the world host events. The UK is the leader in IWD event-hosting. This year, according to the official IWD website (http://www.internationalwomensday.com) the are 1,772 official IWD events this year. This year First Lady Michelle Obama spoke at an event that took place within the walls of the White House. “We’ve come a long way, ladies,” she said, “One hundred years ago we would have never imagined that we’d be standing here in the East Room of the White House celebrating this day with this administration so we have reason to celebrate.”
She spoke of women in numbers - as college graduates, women in the workforce, within the government and the armed forces. "We are breaking barriers and succeeding in careers that our mothers and grandmothers never could have imagined." And indeed we are. IWD's website also encourages women to put in their say. Articles of 1,000 words or less can be submitted to their website (http://www.internationalwomensday.com/articles/) with your opinion of women's equality.
Have a shorter opinion? Feel free to comment or share.
Reflection: I chose to summarize what goes on on March 8th and why it is so special. It is the most modern evidence we have. It talks about the changes that women have made and how IWD helps recognize and commend the advances of where women are now as opposed to where they were.
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