From being able to legally vote and continuing to combat discrimination in the workplace, women have come a long way within the past century, making their voices heard and forging toward the future with independence, strength, compassion, and wisdom.
International Women’s Day is all about appreciating and honouring all the women that have contributed to the progression towards gender equality from the past, present, and even the future, as we continue blazing a trail for the generations of women to come.
This International Women’s Day, Acorn Stairlifts celebrates all of the amazing women in the world who have made a difference, not just from their multiple contributions throughout the course of history, but through the ways in which they touch peoples’ personal lives on a daily basis as well.
Read on to learn about the history behind International Women’s Day and how you can join in on celebrating all of the wonderful women in your life and all over the world.
When is International Women’s Day?
International Women’s Day is on 8 March every year.
This year, in 2024, International Women’s Day falls on a Friday.
What is the Theme for International Women’s Day 2024?
Every year in December, the theme for International Women’s Day is determined by UN Women.
The theme for International Women’s Day 2024 is “Invest in women: Accelerate progress.”
Revolving around achieving gender equality for a more prosperous future for all, the theme stresses the importance of investing in our women, increasing gender-equality measures, and implementing gender-responsive financing.
These are the five targeted areas of interests that require our joint action and attention, as stated by the UN:
- Investing in women, a human rights issue: Time is running out. Gender equality is the greatest human rights challenge, benefiting everyone.
- Ending poverty: Due to the COVID pandemic and conflicts, 75 million more people have fallen into severe poverty since 2020. Immediate action is crucial to prevent over 342 million women and girls living in poverty by 2030.
- Implementing gender-responsive financing: Conflicts and rising prices may lead 75% of countries to cut public spending by 2025, negatively impacting women and their essential services.
- Shifting to a green economy and care society: The current economic system disproportionately affects women. Advocates propose a shift to a green economy and care society to amplify women's voices.
- Supporting feminist change-makers: Despite leading efforts, feminist organizations receive only 0.13% of official development assistance.
Some ways that you can participate in the IWD celebration this year include donating to a charity that invests in the funding of gender equality or supports a better world for women, showing the women in your life how much you support and appreciate them, and promoting gender equality and raising awareness by participating in #InvestInWomen.
How Did International Women’s Day Start?
Although the first official International Women’s Day was declared and recognized by the UN in 1975, the history behind International Women’s Day actually goes back much further.
In fact, it originated back in 1908 in New York City during a women’s rights march where 15,000 people advocated for better wages and voting rights. This led to the recognition of the first Women’s Day in the United States in 1909.
German advocate for women’s rights, Claire Zetkin, saw a global vision of what this day could be, suggesting that the commemorated event be taken to the 1910 International Conference of Working Women in Copenhagen.
Other countries such as Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Germany followed suit in celebrating this day in 1911 when they joined in on the occasion as well.
Now, every year on March 8, International Women’s Day is celebrated on a global scale.
Get Inspired—Words of Wisdom from Women
If we’ve learned anything throughout history, it’s that when a woman talks, you should be listening.
Get inspired by the wise words of these strong, influential women that exemplify the beauty and empowerment of what it means to be a woman.
International Women’s Day Quotes
"We must open the doors and we must see to it they remain open, so that others can pass through."
"Sisterhood is powerful."
"Whatever women do they must do twice as well as men to be thought half as good. Luckily this is not difficult."
"What I have to say is far more important than how long my eyelashes are."
"The usual statement is that I am a remarkable woman because I can do it; the implication is that the average women is too dumb to succeed at a man's task - and I resent that implication, for it is false."
"Women had first to convince the world that they had souls and then that they had minds and then it came on to this matter of political entity and the end is not yet...."
"I think women can save civilization."
"Women are the real architects of society. Women have to harness their power – it's absolutely true. It's just learning not to take the first 'no.' And if you can't go straight ahead, you go around the corner."
“I say, It’s the fire in my eyes, And the flash of my teeth, The swing in my waist, And the joy in my feet.
I’m a woman Phenomenally. Phenomenal woman, That’s me.”
-Maya Angelou
To read Maya Angelou’s full poem of “Phenomenal Woman,” click here.
To learn more about the history of women’s rights, the contributions that women have made throughout history, and more about the influential women themselves, check out these resources:
https://www.canadashistory.ca/explore/women/canada-s-great-women
https://interactive.unwomen.org/multimedia/timeline/womensfootprintinhistory/en/index.html#front1
https://www.unwomen.org/en/news/stories/2021/3/compilation-women-leaders-we-admire
https://www.canadianaffair.com/blog/canadas-influential-women-history/