Women's History Month centers around International Women's Day, a time to celebrate the accomplishments of women worldwide and to continue the fight for global equality for women and girls. In various forms, ranging from a communist holiday to a U.N.-sponsored event, International Women's Day has been celebrated for almost 90 years.*
March 8, 1857: In New York City, hundreds of women garment and textile workers protested against inhumane working conditions, the 12-hour workday, and low wages. Police attacked and dispersed the women. Two years later, these women formed their first union.
March 8, 1908: In New York City, 15,000 women marched, demanding shorter hours, better pay, voting rights and an end to child labor. They adopted the slogan "Bread and Roses."
In May of that year, the Socialist Party of America designated National Women's Day as the last Sunday in February.
February 28, 1909: The First National Women's Day was observed throughout the U.S.
1910: Women in Europe began celebrating Women's Day on the last Sunday of February.
February 23, 1917(March 8 on the Georgian calendar): the strike "for bread and peace," led by Russian women in St. Petersburg, merged with riots that had spread through the city between March 8–12. The February Revolution, as it became known, forced the Czar Nicholas II to abdicate.
Later, Lenin made March 8 an official communist holiday. During the Soviet period, the holiday celebrated "the heroic woman worker." Today it is still a Russian holiday—celebrated in the fashion of Mother's Day with flowers or breakfast in bed—in which men show appreciation for the women in their lives.
December 1977: The General Assembly adopted the resolution proclaiming a United Nations Day for Women's Rights and International Peace to be observed on any day by Member States. International Women's Day has been observed by the United Nations on March 8 since 1975.
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Brunner, Borgna http://www.infoplease.com/spot/womensday1.html
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| The Global Gag Rule |
| Women worldwide continue to face a widespread lack of safe and accessible abortion and other reproductive healthcare services. President George W. Bush reinstated the Global Gag Rule, making it even harder for international family planning programs to provide these services. This year, on International Women's Day take action against the Global Gag Rule. Download an informational flyer on this policy, along with a sample letter to the editor. Take action in honor of women worldwide by distributing flyers on your campus and writing letters to your local or campus newspapers!
Learn more about the Global Gag Rule |
| Urge the US Senate to Ratify CEDAW |
| CEDAW is an international Bill of Rights for women, which has NOT been ratified by the United States. Take action by urging the U.S. Senate to ratify CEDAW and protect women's human rights!
Learn more about CEDAW |
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