By Summer Knegtmans
Today, March 8th, is International Women’s Day. Why is this day actually celebrated on 8 March and what is its significance? Choosing this particular day was not an easy decision, as the roots of International Women’s Day are intertwined with political struggles; labour movements; and women’s determination to gain equal rights. It is a day that symbolises the many victories women have won worldwide, but also the many struggles that remain unresolved. The story of International Women’s Day is therefore one of struggle, solidarity and determination, and it is important to understand its historical context and significance to appreciate why this day is still so important. So let’s dive deeper into the history of this day and find out how it grew into a globally recognised event that mobilises millions of women worldwide to fight for their rights.
The origins of International Women’s Day
The roots of International Women’s Day lie in the early 20th century, a period when women around the world began to make their voices heard, especially on labour rights. It was a time of profound social and political change, when labour movements, the rise of socialism and the growing women’s movements went hand in hand. The textile industry, where women worked in large numbers, was one of the poorest workplaces. Women within this industry worked long hours for low wages in dangerous conditions. Factories in cities like New York and London were notorious for their unsafe and unhealthy work environment. Despite playing a vital role in the economy, women received little recognition and remained trapped in a system of structural economic exploitation
In response to these deplorable working conditions, thousands of textile workers gathered in New York on the 8th of March 1908 to protest. They demanded better working conditions, shorter working weeks, better wages and the right to vote. This women’s strike is often seen as the first action associated with the birth of International Women’s Day. This historic event not only marked a protest against social inequality, but was also a clear signal that women would no longer submit to oppression. The struggle these women waged was not only a struggle for economic improvement, but also for their foundations as human beings. This strike became the starting shot for the broader women’s movement, which would spread around the world later in the 20th century.
The first International Women’s Day
The idea of organising a global day of action for women’s rights emerged two years later, in 1910, when German feminist Clara Zetkin proposed it at the Second International Socialist Women’s Conference in Copenhagen. Zetkin, who played a prominent role in the socialist women’s movement, proposed organising an annual International Women’s Day. In doing so, she wanted to promote international solidarity among women, especially with a view to fighting for the right to vote and improving working conditions. Her proposal was simple: by organising an annual day when women in different countries would fight together for their rights, the women’s movement could become stronger worldwide. It was adopted unanimously by the delegates of the present countries.
A year later, on the 19th of March 1911, the first International Women’s Day took place. The day was celebrated in several European countries such as Germany, Austria, Denmark and Switzerland. The Netherlands joined in a year later and celebrated its first Dutch Women’s Day on the 12th of May 1912. In major cities, thousands of women marched in the streets. They held demonstrations and rallies to demand women’s right to vote, as well as better working conditions. In Vienna, for example, tens of thousands of women gathered, at the same time in Berlin there were mass marches that filled the public space. The women did not allow themselves to be intimidated by the police or by opponents of women’s rights, and their powerful protests marked an important moment in the history of the women’s movement. Although the date the 19th of March was originally chosen because of its political significance in Germany, another event, which would take place in Russia six years later, would make the choice of the date the 8th of March final.
The turning point: the Russian Revolution
The change of date from the 19th of March to the 8th of March did not happen overnight, but took place in response to a historical moment during the Russian Revolution of 1917. On the 8th of March 1917 (the 23th of February according to the old Julian calendar), a mass strike broke out in St Petersburg, led mainly by women. The women were working in factories where conditions were terrible, and the country had fallen into a deep crisis because of the Great War. They were desperate because of food shortages and poor living conditions, and on that day thousands of women took to the streets to protest. They demanded ‘bread and peace’ and called for an end to the war. This was the starting point of the February Revolution, which eventually triggered the fall of the tsar and the rise of the Russian Revolution. Women’s strikes in 1917 are often considered the symbolic beginning of the Russian Revolution and it shows the crucial role women played in the political changes of the time.
The impact of this event was enormous. The women who filled the streets of St Petersburg on the 8th of March 1917 proved to the world that women could play a central role in political change. This moment later became a symbol of women’s struggle for social and political change. It was a powerful reminder of the power women could unleash when they united. After this event, the 8th of March was globally recognised as the day when the power of the women’s movement became visible. In the following years, this date became an official holiday in the Soviet Union and other socialist countries. It became a day of national significance, celebrating women’s achievements in the revolution and honouring their rights.
From socialist day to global recognition
Although the celebration of International Women’s Day continued in socialist countries, the day remained relatively unknown in many western countries. Only in the 1960s and 1970s, during the second feminist wave, did the day become popular again. The fight for women’s rights, including equal pay, reproductive rights and the right to self-determination, received more attention. The world was changing and the women’s movement was gaining momentum. In 1975, recognised as the International Year of Women, the United Nations General Assembly began declaring the 8th of March as International Women’s Day. Three years later, in 1978, the day was officially declared a public holiday by the United Nations, leading to worldwide celebrations and recognition of the day as a symbol of the struggle for gender equality.
The modern-day importance of International Women’s Day
Today, International Women’s Day remains a crucial moment to reflect on the progress that has been made but, more importantly, the challenges that remain. Although women in many parts of the world have gained the right to vote and legal equality, structural inequalities, such as the wage gap, gender-based violence and limited access to education and healthcare, remain intractable problems. Globally, women are still disproportionately affected by poverty and conflict, and in some countries their rights are even reversed. Therefore, International Women’s Day is an essential moment to raise awareness and demand action.
The focus of the women’s movement has changed over time. Whereas in the early 20th century the struggle was mainly focused on voting and labour rights, in the 1960s and 1970s it shifted to self-determination and reproductive rights. Today, the focus is on intersectional issues such as economic independence, representation in decision-making positions and the fight against gender-based violence. The movement calls for structural changes to counter systematic inequality: from breaking the ‘glass ceiling’ to recognising and valuing unpaid care work. In addition, issues such as a safe working environment; combating sexual harassment; and achieving equal opportunities for women in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) sectors remain important agenda items.
In addition, International Women’s Day is increasingly being used as a platform to raise awareness about the impact of climate change on women, especially in vulnerable communities. Women play a crucial role in conserving natural resources, but are also disproportionately affected by environmental problems such as forced migration and the loss of livelihoods. In many communities around the world, women are on the frontline of climate change, pushing for sustainable solutions and environmental protection. By giving them a voice and platform, International Women’s Day can contribute to structural changes that not only promote gender equality, but also address broader social and environmental challenges.
In 2025, International Women’s Day will be dedicated to the theme ‘Accelerate Action’. This theme highlights the urgency of faster and more decisive steps towards gender equality. According to the World Economic Forum, at the current pace, it will take until 2158 – about five generations – to achieve full gender equality. The ‘Accelerate Action’ theme calls for intensified efforts to address systematic barriers and biases that women face in both their personal and professional lives. A key aspect of this issue is supporting organisations working for the betterment of women and girls, with a call to raise funds for women-centred causes during all events around International Women’s Day. By taking collective action and supporting these organisations, we can significantly accelerate the path to gender equality.
So International Women’s Day remains much needed. It is not only a day to celebrate women’s achievements, but also a call to action to achieve gender equality worldwide. Only through collective efforts, policy change and civic engagement can we create a future where women and men have equal opportunities and rights. Governments, companies and individuals all have a role to play in this. Raising awareness and encouraging concrete actions, such as investment in girls’ education, better legislation against gender discrimination and more women in leadership positions, are some of the steps needed to achieve a truly equal society.
Photo: Ehimatalor Akhere Unuabona via Unsplash
