Straight Talk by Nimfa L. Estrellado According to Wikipedia, The earliest Women’s Day observance, called “National Woman’s Day,” was ...
Straight Talk
by Nimfa L. Estrellado
According to Wikipedia, The earliest Women’s Day observance, called “National Woman’s Day,” was held on February 28, 1909 in New York, organized by the Socialist Party of America[5] at the suggestion of Theresa Malkiel.Though there have been claims that the day was commemorating a protest by women garment workers in New York on March 8, 1857, researchers have described this as a myth.
In August 1910, an International Socialist Women’s Conference was organized to precede the general meeting of the Socialist Second International in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Female members of the Australian Builders Labourers Federation march on International Women’s Day 1975 in Sydney. In 1913 Russian women observed their first International Women’s Day on the last Saturday in February (by the Julian calendar then used in Russia).
In 1914 International Women’s Day was held on March 8, possibly because that day was a Sunday, and now it is always held on March 8 in all countries.The 1914 observance of the Day in Germany was dedicated to women’s right to vote, which German women did not win until 1918. In London there was a march from Bow to Trafalgar Square in support of women’s suffrage on March 8, 1914. Sylvia Pankhurst was arrested in front of Charing Cross station on her way to speak in Trafalgar Square.
On March 8, 1917, on the Gregorian calendar, in the capital of the Russian Empire, Petrograd, women textile workers began a demonstration, covering the whole city. This marked the beginning of the Russian Revolution.[17][3] Women in Saint Petersburg went on strike that day for “Bread and Peace” – demanding the end of World War I, an end to Russian food shortages, and the end of czarism. Leon Trotsky wrote, “23 February (8th March) was International Woman’s Day and meetings and actions were foreseen. But we did not imagine that this ‘Women’s Day’ would inaugurate the revolution. Revolutionary actions were foreseen but without date. But in the morning, despite the orders to the contrary, textile workers left their work in several factories and sent delegates to ask for support of the strike… which led to mass strike... all went out into the streets.” Seven days later, the Emperor of Russia, Nicholas II abdicated and the provisional Government granted women the right to vote. From its official adoption in Soviet Russia following the Revolution in 1917, the holiday was predominantly celebrated in communist countries and by the communist movement worldwide. It was celebrated by the communists in China from 1922.[11] After the founding of the People’s Republic of China on October 1, 1949 the State Council proclaimed on December 23 that March 8 would be made an official holiday with women in China given a half-day off. Communist leader Dolores Ibárruri led a women’s march in Madrid in 1936 on the eve of the Spanish Civil War. The United Nations began celebrating International Women’s Day in the International Women’s Year, 1975. In 1977, the United Nations General Assembly invited member states to proclaim March 8 as the UN Day for women’s rights and world peace, and the rest was history.
This 2018 the theme for International Women’s Day 2018 was chosen as #PressforProgress. Inspired by movements like #MeToo and #TimesUp, the #PressForProgress campaign encourages people everywhere to continue to speak out, stand up, and advocate for gender equality.
Each year International Women’s Day celebrates women’s accomplishments and promotes global gender equality. Women are becoming more empowered than ever before to stand up for their rights and be heard.
Take a look at what’s happened earlier this year. In Februrary we saw thousands of women from Gabriela and other women advocate groups gathered for a protest in Malate, Manila, responding to the statement of President Rodrigo Duterte. Through poems and songs, they voiced out their dismay at the statement of President Duterte to shoot New People’s Army (NPA) women members in their private parts.
We hope this year, we see more women stand up to violence and injustice, filled with a renewed focus on female-empowerment and women speaking out. So for International Women’s Day we’d like to give a special shout out to those women who break down barriers, raise up their voices and never take no for an answer. Each and everyone of them is worth knowing and we hope you’ll be as inspired by them as we are.
In August 1910, an International Socialist Women’s Conference was organized to precede the general meeting of the Socialist Second International in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Female members of the Australian Builders Labourers Federation march on International Women’s Day 1975 in Sydney. In 1913 Russian women observed their first International Women’s Day on the last Saturday in February (by the Julian calendar then used in Russia).
In 1914 International Women’s Day was held on March 8, possibly because that day was a Sunday, and now it is always held on March 8 in all countries.The 1914 observance of the Day in Germany was dedicated to women’s right to vote, which German women did not win until 1918. In London there was a march from Bow to Trafalgar Square in support of women’s suffrage on March 8, 1914. Sylvia Pankhurst was arrested in front of Charing Cross station on her way to speak in Trafalgar Square.
On March 8, 1917, on the Gregorian calendar, in the capital of the Russian Empire, Petrograd, women textile workers began a demonstration, covering the whole city. This marked the beginning of the Russian Revolution.[17][3] Women in Saint Petersburg went on strike that day for “Bread and Peace” – demanding the end of World War I, an end to Russian food shortages, and the end of czarism. Leon Trotsky wrote, “23 February (8th March) was International Woman’s Day and meetings and actions were foreseen. But we did not imagine that this ‘Women’s Day’ would inaugurate the revolution. Revolutionary actions were foreseen but without date. But in the morning, despite the orders to the contrary, textile workers left their work in several factories and sent delegates to ask for support of the strike… which led to mass strike... all went out into the streets.” Seven days later, the Emperor of Russia, Nicholas II abdicated and the provisional Government granted women the right to vote. From its official adoption in Soviet Russia following the Revolution in 1917, the holiday was predominantly celebrated in communist countries and by the communist movement worldwide. It was celebrated by the communists in China from 1922.[11] After the founding of the People’s Republic of China on October 1, 1949 the State Council proclaimed on December 23 that March 8 would be made an official holiday with women in China given a half-day off. Communist leader Dolores Ibárruri led a women’s march in Madrid in 1936 on the eve of the Spanish Civil War. The United Nations began celebrating International Women’s Day in the International Women’s Year, 1975. In 1977, the United Nations General Assembly invited member states to proclaim March 8 as the UN Day for women’s rights and world peace, and the rest was history.
This 2018 the theme for International Women’s Day 2018 was chosen as #PressforProgress. Inspired by movements like #MeToo and #TimesUp, the #PressForProgress campaign encourages people everywhere to continue to speak out, stand up, and advocate for gender equality.
Each year International Women’s Day celebrates women’s accomplishments and promotes global gender equality. Women are becoming more empowered than ever before to stand up for their rights and be heard.
Take a look at what’s happened earlier this year. In Februrary we saw thousands of women from Gabriela and other women advocate groups gathered for a protest in Malate, Manila, responding to the statement of President Rodrigo Duterte. Through poems and songs, they voiced out their dismay at the statement of President Duterte to shoot New People’s Army (NPA) women members in their private parts.
We hope this year, we see more women stand up to violence and injustice, filled with a renewed focus on female-empowerment and women speaking out. So for International Women’s Day we’d like to give a special shout out to those women who break down barriers, raise up their voices and never take no for an answer. Each and everyone of them is worth knowing and we hope you’ll be as inspired by them as we are.
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