8 March International Working Women’s Day, declared in 1977, continues to carry the essence of working women’s struggle and determination, just as it did at its origins, keeping women’s awareness alive and still relevant today. This special day immortalizes the labor and struggle women fought for years ago for their freedom and equality. This journey has continued to this day.
Therefore, learning about the history of International Women’s Day is important both to honor the women who fought for freedom and equality and to remember them, and to celebrate this day more consciously. In this blog, we will briefly learn about the history of International Women’s Day on March 8 and share the voices of women.
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How Did International Women’s Day Start?
The roots of International Women’s Day on March 8 go back to the labor movement in 1857. It started when women workers in the textile industry in New York City protested against low wages, long working hours, and inhumane working conditions. During these protests, a fire broke out, and 129 workers lost their lives because they couldn’t escape because of police barricades.
Following this tragic event, at the Second International Women’s Conference held in Denmark in 1910, it was agreed on the proposal of Clara Zetkin, a leading figure in the Social Democratic Party, to declare March 8 as “International Women’s Day” in memory of the female workers who lost their lives in the 1857 textile factory fire.
It gained a broader audience when it began to be celebrated in the United States in the late 1960s. The United Nations General Assembly officially recognized March 8 as International Women’s Day on December 16, 1977. The General Assembly did not base March 8 on the workers who lost their lives in New York, but rather aimed to protect world peace and social development, strengthen human rights, and provide women with greater equality and freedom. It was accepted that equal rights for women would strengthen world peace.
International Women’s Day Messages
After recalling this historical struggle, let’s take a look at some International Women’s Day messages you can send to the inspiring and precious women in your life.
– Happy International Women’s Day!
– Happy Women’s Day, who always make the world beautiful and livable.
– The woman is free; she is a fighter. I am always with you as you walk this path.
– You’ve always held my hand in this life. I wish you to always be by my side, and I congratulate Women’s Day.
– Wishing you a more equal world, happy day.
– The power of women creates a new world. I congratulate Women’s Day with my wish for a more equal and free world.
– Thank you for reflecting the beauty within you on our environment. I congratulate Women’s Day with the wish for a beautiful world.
– My dear friend, always be by my side. I celebrate Women’s Day and wish to be shoulder to shoulder always.
– You are the strongest woman I know. My dear friend, always stand up for life, happy day.
– Thank you for everything you add to my life with your strength. I love you so much my dear, happy day.
– I know I can’t repay your hard work. Just know that I love you very much. Don’t miss out on your smile on this special day. Happy women’s day.
– Let it be a Women’s Day that we celebrate shoulder to shoulder.
– We will build a better world together, my dear friend. I congratulate you on Women’s Day and wish you success in achieving your goals.
– Happy day to the beautiful woman who stole my heart.
– Darling, telling you this word is the best gift for me. I wish to be together on this special day, and on all other days, I wish you a happy day.
– I wish you a happy day, my dear, with the hope of better tomorrows.
Famous Quotes By Women
Here are some insightful quotes by women, in their own words and voices!
‘’Each time a woman stands up for herself, without knowing it possibly, without claiming it, she stands up for all women. ‘’
– Maya Angelou
“There is always light, if only we’re brave enough to see it. If only we’re brave enough to be it.”
–Amanda Gorman
“When anyone tells me I can’t do anything … I’m just not listening anymore.” –Florence Griffith Joyner
“Nothing is impossible. The word itself says, ‘I’m possible!’”
–Audrey Hepburn
‘’No person is your friend who demands your silence, or denies your right to grow.’’
– Alice Walker
“We cannot change what we are not aware of, and once we are aware, we cannot help but change.”
–Sheryl Sandberg
“I dwell in possibility.”
–Emily Dickinson
‘’Women, they have minds, and they have souls, as well as just hearts. And they’ve got ambition, and they’ve got talent, as well as just beauty. I’m so sick of people saying that love is all a woman is fit for.”
– Louisa May Alcott, Little Women (said by character Jo March)
“Women belong in all places where decisions are being made. It shouldn’t be that women are the exception.”
– Ruth Bader Ginsburg
“I am not free while any woman is unfree, even when her shackles are very different from my own.”
– Audre Lorde
“We realize the importance of our voice when we are silenced.”
– Malala Yousafzai
“Human rights are women’s rights, and women’s rights are human rights.”
– Hillary Clinton
“I’ve never been interested in being invisible and erased.”
– Laverne Cox
“Women are like teabags. We don’t know our true strength until we are in hot water.”
– Eleanor Roosevelt
“Feminism isn’t about making women strong. Women are already strong. It’s about changing the way the world perceives that strength.”
– G.D. Anderson
“Do not live someone else’s life and someone else’s idea of what womanhood is. Womanhood is you.”
– Viola Davis
“They’ll tell you you’re too loud, that you need to wait your turn and ask the right people for permission. Do it anyway.”
– Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
“I am grateful to be a woman. I must have done something great in another life.”
– Maya Angelou
“I have learned you are never too small to make a difference.”
– Greta Thunberg
‘’…A woman like that is not ashamed to die. I have been her kind.’’
– Anne Sexton
Frequently Asked Questions About the History of International Women’s Day
Here are the frequently asked questions about the History of International Women’s Day.
When did International Women’s Day begin?
International Women’s Day has its roots in the early 20th-century labor movements. It was officially recognized by the United Nations in 1977.
Why is International Women’s Day celebrated on March 8?
March 8 was chosen to honor the struggles of women workers who fought for better working conditions, fair wages, and equal rights.
What is the main purpose of International Women’s Day?
The main purpose is to celebrate women’s achievements while also raising awareness about gender equality and women’s rights.
Is International Women’s Day only about celebration?
No. It is not only a celebration but also a day of reflection, awareness, and continued advocacy for equality and social justice.
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