Celebrating the Ladies

March is an exciting and pivotal month. This is the month that we transition from winter to spring and experience the rebirth of nature that has been dormant. For some it is the beginning of daylight savings time. In addition, March is exceptionally special because it is the month that we celebrate the social, economic and personal contributions that women have made to the world.

Globally women are recognized and honored on March 8 which is designated as International Women’s Day. And, in the United States (US), the entire month is dedicated to women and recognized as Women’s History Month.

While it might seem to some that these observances began in the recent past, in fact the US movement can be traced back to 1908. This is when thousands of women in New York marched and demanded shorter work hours, better pay and the right to vote. It was the next year that the first National Women’s Day was declared by the Socialist Party of America. In March 1980, the observance was expanded to a week and finally a full month in 1987. 

However, the demands for women’s rights and equality were not only American concerns. In 1910, Russian communist activist Clara Zetkin suggested to the delegates attending the International Conference of Working Women that there be an International Women’s Day. The motion was unanimously passed and the first observance took place in 1911 with celebrations in Germany, Austria, Denmark and Switzerland. Finally in 1975, the United Nations formally commemorated the day.

The US road to women’s rights, as with all civil rights movements for the under-recognized, has been a long journey. Women gained the right to vote in 1920 but it took until 1963 for the Equal Pay Act to be passed by Congress. Then, in 1972, Title IX made it illegal to academically discriminate against women. And, in 2013 women gained the right to participate in active combat positions.

There have been many milestones along this journey to female equality; but yet we know that there is such a long way more to go. While there have been some setbacks, we women still remain on a trajectory to better the lives of our sisters. 

While the world may have special observances during the month of March, we know that it is a daily challenge throughout the year to achieve gender equity. So, as the month draws to an end, let’s remember the 2022 International Women’s Day Theme: #BreakTheBias.