International Women’s Day, on Friday, March 8, is a day of celebrating the achievements of women now practiced for more than 100 years. But it’s also a reminder of how ‘we can forge a better world.’
6 thoughtful International Women’s Day gestures
International Women’s Day is celebrated every year on March 8.
unbranded – Lifestyle
It doesn’t take much to show your support for International Women’s Day: just post a selfie making the heart gesture.
But to support women year-round, this year’s International Women’s Day campaign theme of #InspireInclusion “calls for action to break down barriers, challenge stereotypes, and create environments where all women are valued and respected,” the IWD website reads.
“‘Inspire Inclusion’ encourages everyone to recognize the unique perspectives and contributions of women from all walks of life, including those from marginalized communities,” the IWD site says.
Participating in International Women’s Day can drive that recognition. “When we inspire others to understand and value women’s inclusion, we forge a better world,” the organizers say on the site. “And when women themselves are inspired to be included, there’s a sense of belonging, relevance, and empowerment.”
Women’s History Month: USA TODAY’s 2024 Women of the Year
What is International Women’s Day?
Observed annually on March 8, International Women’s Day celebrates the global “social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women,” according to the event website.
The day also calls for action to advance gender equality.
Watch these Women of the Year reveal what they learned from adversity
USA Today’s Women of the Year explain why triumph over adversity is among the keys to their success.
International Women’s Day: Gender parity gap remains
Women still face challenges getting equal pay and leadership positions. For instance, women in the U.S. earned 83 cents for every dollar men earned in 2022, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Since 2000, women worldwide have made “huge strides forward in higher education, women headship and healthy life expectancy but are still significantly lagging when it comes to disposable income,” according to Euromonitor International.
But women’s average disposable income remains 31% lower than those of men worldwide, the research firm says. Women in North America have seen the largest increase with an uplift of 38% in their disposable incomes, compared to the global average of 23%, over the last five years, said Euromonitor International research consultant Jacques Olivier in a statement.
“Income inequality remains one of the most significant obstacles faced by woman in reaching gender equality,” Olivier said.
International Women’s Day should be like “a global pep rally celebrating how far we ladies have come while firing us up to keep that momentum raging,” said Erica Cronan, global director of marketing for data management firm Datadobi, in a statement. “You can’t help but feel inspired thinking about the bold trailblazers throughout history who broke down barriers against all odds. The unstoppable suffragettes, straight-up heroes like RBG, Amelia Earhart, Serena – those unapologetic women heard ‘no’ and ‘you can’t’ as a challenge to demolish,” she said.
“IWD means toasting the brave ones before us while channeling that same spirit as we keep forging new paths,’ Cronan said.
Women in the US workforce: Strides made in five charts
When was International Women’s Day first celebrated?
The idea for an International Women’s Day was proposed and approved at the second International Conference of Working Women in Copenhagen, Denmark, in 1910. This came a year after the Socialist Party of America celebrated the first National Woman’s Day in the U.S. on February 28, 1909, according to the IWD site.
The event was observed on March 19, 1911 in several European countries, with rallies and events calling for women’s right to vote and an end to gender discriminations.
Since 1914, March 8 has been the fixed date for International Women’s Day; it was moved to be in line with Russian women who celebrated the day on February 23 on the Gregorian calendar. The United Nations first recognized International Women’s Day in 1975.
How do we celebrate International Women’s Day?
Across the globe, demonstrations are planned from Tokyo to Mexico City. But these aren’t always celebrations.
Last year, women in Turkey protested in Istanbul despite a ban on an IWD march before police used tear gas to disperse the crowd and detain some protesters. Dozens of people were injured as part of an IWD protest in Mexico City in 2021.
You can join in many in-person events across the U.S. Just search for events on the International Women’s Day website.
There are many virtual ones available, too, including:
What is the theme for International Women’s Day 2023?
This year’s theme of #InspireInclusion “encourages everyone to recognize the unique perspectives and contributions of women from all walks of life, including those from marginalized communities,” the IWD website reads.
International Women’s Day organizers encourage all, not just women, to get involved by striking the #InspireInclusion pose – making a heart symbol with your hands – and sharing selfies on social media with the hashtags #IWD2024 and #InspireInclusion.
International Women’s Day is not just about women, the organizers note. “We can all challenge gender stereotypes, call out discrimination, draw attention to bias, and seek out inclusion,” the website suggests. “Allies are incredibly important for the social, economic, cultural, and political advancement of women.”
People can also submit their selfies to the International Women’s Day website.
What colors do you wear on International Women’s Day?
Purple, green and white are considered the colors of International Women’s Day, according to the website. These colors have roots in the United Kingdom’s Women’s Social and Political Union from the early 1900’s.
Contributing: Jayme Fraser, Jessica Guynn and Janet Loehrke of the USA TODAY Network and The Associated Press.
Follow Mike Snider on X and Threads: @mikesnider & mikegsnider.
What’s everyone talking about? Sign up for our trending newsletter to get the latest news of the day