March 8th marks International Women’s Day. Celebrated for over a hundred years, International Women’s Day is a time to forge women’s equality, fight for a world without bias and take action for gender inclusivity & women’s advancement in all aspects of life. To properly honor International Women’s Day this month, it is essential to understand the bravery, determination and grit of the many activists throughout history who have broken down barriers to gender equality and fought for generations of women to follow.

The Beginning:

The movement began in 1908 when 15,000 courageous women accelerated the campaign for change. This troop marched through the streets of New York City demanding voting rights, better pay, the ability to run for public office and less grueling work hours.

Although not every demand was met with the desired action, as the result of a declaration by the Socialist Party of America, National Women’s Day was proclaimed for the first time on February 28th, 1909.

In 1911, the revolution spread to Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland. This resulted from the work of Clara Zetkin, a member of the Social Democratic Party for Germany, who pioneered the conversation regarding the desire for this observation to be celebrated by every country on the same day. She rallied allies from 17 countries including women from all classes and socialist parties to achieve this goal, and until 1913, International Women’s Day was celebrated across all of these countries on March 19th.

Although the observance of International Women’s Day had brought significant attention
to women’s oppression and inequality, many battles had yet to be won. On March 25th, 1911, tragedy struck in New York City when over 140 women lost their lives while working in horrendous conditions. This deadly event is known as the “Triangle of Fire,” which brought significant attention to the inhumane working conditions and hours that women, particularly immigrant women, were being subjected to. As a result, the “Bread and Roses Strike” arose, inspired by a speech given by American women’s suffrage activist Helen Todd, which was a major part of the women’s movement worldwide. This strike was a public protest pioneered by immigrant women to demand more appropriate, safe working conditions, and defy a recent wage cut for mill workers. Banners could be seen held high by those marching, stating, “We Want Bread and Roses Too.”

Major protests such as the “Bread and Roses Strike”, along with the advocacy of powerful historic women, gave women’s rights the attention it desperately needed in the eyes of the public. In 1913, due to the adaption of the increasingly popular Gregorian calendar, International Women’s Day was officially set to be observed on March 8th worldwide and has held that date ever since. The observance has sparked monumental rallies, marches, protests, and overall advocacy for women everywhere.

Unfortunately, by the early 2000s, traction had dwindled surrounding International Women’s Day, and the desire for action seemed to slow down. As a result, internationalwomensday.com was launched in an attempt to create a safe and encouraging hub to inspire more action to be taken worldwide. This website presented the opportunity to publicize International Women’s Day events and share all of the amazing work women continue to do in every facet of life. Since the early 2000s was still a time free of platforms to promote events, this hub provided women, and anyone interested in gender equality, with a space to gather and advocate for change.

Now, in the new age of increased social media usage, online movements like the “#MeToo” campaign, a global movement against sexual violence, have become an additional tool to make the world more aware of gender injustices.

Accelerate Action:

A significant part of International Women’s Day has been the annual themes, which have generated a focal point for change each year. Previous themes have included, “Women at the Peace Table”, “Women and Human Rights”, and “World Free of Violence Against Women.” Each theme has summarized a hot topic in women’s rights and advancements presented within their corresponding year.

The campaign theme for International Women’s Day 2025 is “Accelerate Action,” which is fitting for the acknowledgment of steps recently taken back on the journey toward gender equality in the United States. The objective of this theme is to encourage the public to make meaningful changes for action against the diminishing of women’s rights and to remind everyone that this important work is never truly done.

In addition, “Accelerate Action” takes into account the major setbacks that have occurred to slow down progress, including COVID-19, which disproportionately affected women in many areas of life. The pandemic eliminated opportunities to gather in person or host events, heightened domestic violence and resulted in widespread job loss for women. By addressing these global setbacks, this theme creates a feeling of togetherness, that will hopefully speed up momentum for transformative change once again.

Ways to Observe:

• Enforce Legal and Policy Reforms: Pay attention to laws and policies that promote gender equality.

• Promote Economic Empowerment: Advocate for equal pay and access to financial resources for women.

• Enable Education and Skill Development: Support the learning of young girls and the elimination of gender bias in education.

• Increase Women’s Leadership and Representation: Support women in politics and leadership positions.

• Combat Gender-Based Violence: Challenge harmful gender stereotypes and support survivors of gender-based violence.

• Use Technology for Inclusion: Join or support a campaign for change on social media.

International Women’s Day Events:

There are a few exciting and inclusive events planned to honor International Women’s Day this year in Connecticut. Consider stopping by to show your support and learn more about each organization/event’s mission.

• International Women’s Day Luncheon: Saturday, March 8th, 2025, from 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM. Located at 145 Main St, 145 Main Street, Somers, United States. This event will be hosted by The Joy Magazine of CT, a publication for women aged 50 and older. Be sure to register to reserve your spot!

• International Women’s Day Self-Care Retreat: Saturday, March 8th, 2025, from 4:00 PM – 9:00 PM. Located at 642 Hilliard St Suite 1215, Manchester, CT. Hosted by Respira Counseling and Wellness LLC at The Pearl Aura, enjoy a day full of wellness activities. Register here to secure your spot.

• International Women’s Day Small Business Market: Saturday, March 8th, 2025, from 12:00 PM to 05:00 PM. Located at 64 Main St, Stafford Springs, CT. Hosted by Let’s Get Wired LLC, sign up to become a vendor or attend this market dedicated to supporting women-owned small businesses.