Marked every year on March 8th, International Women’s Day (IWD) is perhaps the main day of the year to praise women's accomplishments, bring issues to light about women's equality, lobby for accelerated gender parity, and fundraise for female-centered causes. Critical movement is seen worldwide as groups meet up to commend women's accomplishments or rally for women's equality.

IWD outgrew the labor movement to turn into a perceived yearly occasion by the United Nations (UN). The seeds of it were planted in 1968 when 15,000 ladies walked through New York City demanding more limited working hours, better compensation, and the right to vote. It was the Socialist Party of America who announced the main National Woman's day, after a year. It's extraordinary that, in India, today ladies work in huge organizations and get equivalent compensation as men. Yet, According to information from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the average American woman (barring the contemplations of race, sexual direction, age, pay level, actual capacity, and whether they have children) earns almost 82 cents for each dollar the average American man does - an 18.2% difference in pay contrasted with the male median wage.

Be that as it may, the issue of the gender pay gap reaches out past the boundaries of the US. As per information from a similar OECD report, some of the member nations with the most significant gender pay gaps incorporate Korea, Estonia, Japan, Latvia, and Chile, yet different nations have significant gender pay differences also. And furthermore, in view of the pandemic, women are doing essentially more domestic chores and family care, which thusly, can affect job and education opportunities. Data from the UN women uncovered that the COVID pandemic could wipe out 25 years of increasing gender equality.

The plan to make the day worldwide came from a lady called Clara Zetkin. She recommended the thought in 1910 at an International Conference of Working Women in Copenhagen. There were 100 ladies there, from 17 nations, and they conceded to her idea collectively. It was first celebrated in 1911, in Austria, Denmark, Germany, and Switzerland. Things were made official in 1975 when the UN began celebrating the day. The first theme embraced by the UN (in 1966) was "Celebrating the Past, Planning for the Future". The current year's theme is "Choose to Challenge". Clara's thought for an international women's day had no fixed date. It wasn't formalized until a war-time strike in 1917 when Russian ladies requested "brand and peace"- and four days into the women's strike the Tsar had to abandon and the provisional Government granted women the right to vote. The date when the women's strike started on the Julian calendar, which was then being used in Russia was Sunday, February 23. This day in the Gregorian calendar was March 8. IWD is commended each year; yet, India positions 123 among 162 nations in the gender inequality index. As indicated by the Global Gender Gap Report 2020, it will require an additional 100 years to accomplish gender equality dependent on the current pace of progress. Equality starts from our own home. Everybody at home must be responsible for encouraging equality. Everything relies upon the outlook of a family, despite the fact that, there are different missions to bring issues to light on gender equality. The behaviour of each family adds to the change and advancement of a nation.

by Swathi R


Women’s day is symbolic of the historic journey women around the world have taken to better their lives. It comes as a reminder that while a lot has been achieved by the turmoil of the women, the journey is long and a lot more needs to be done. a day when we honour women’s immense strength and unique abilities. This day is meant to uphold feminist values and celebrate womanhood to the fullest. It’s also an occasion to celebrate the great achievements of women and the meaningful contributions they’ve made to the world.

International Women’s Day has been celebrated for over a century now. But while many people think of it as a feminist cause, its roots lie in the labour movement. It was first organised in 1911 by the early 20th century Marxist from Germany Clara Zetkin.

Zetkin was born in 1857 in Germany’s Wiederau. She trained as a teacher, and was associated with the Social Democratic Party (SPD) that is one of the two major political parties in the country today. She was a part of both the labour movement and the women’s movement.

In the 1880s, when anti-socialist laws were enforced by German leader Otto von Bismarck, Zetkin went into a self-imposed exile in Switzerland and France. During this time, she wrote and distributed proscribed literature, and met leading socialists of the time. Zetkin also played a significant role in the formation of the Socialist International.

 

Upon her return to Germany, she became the editor of Die Gleichheit (‘Equality’) — SPD’s newspaper for women — from 1892 to 1917. In the SPD, Zetkin was closely associated with the far-left thinker and revolutionary Rosa Luxemburg. In 1910 — three years after she became a co-founder of the International Socialist Women’s Congress — Zetkin proposed at a conference that Women’s Day be celebrated in every country on February 28.

The conference comprised 100 women from 17 countries, with unions, socialist parties, working women’s clubs and female legislators unanimously approving the suggestion. Women’s Day was observed for the first time in 1911.

Two years later, in 1913, the date was changed to March 8, and it continues to be celebrated as such every year.

International Women's Day is not country, group, nor organization specific. No one government, NGO, charity, corporation, academic institution, women's network, or media hub is solely responsible for International Women's Day. The day belongs to all groups collectively everywhere. Gloria Steinem, world-renowned feminist, journalist and activist once explained "The story of women's struggle for equality belongs to no single feminist, nor to any one organization, but to the collective efforts of all who care about human rights."  So make International Women's Day your day and do what you can to truly make a positive difference for women.

Celebration of women’s day should not be limited to a single day recognition, but a lifetime celebration.

Today’s women need to establish themselves as an identity who lives on its own.  Women need to empower themselves in a way that is benefiting them as well as the whole society.

●        Women must possess self-worth, confidence, and freedom to choose their needs and requirements.

●        Women need to have a free and non-biased environment in the society.

●        Women need to have equal pay in all the industries whether in cinema, sports, e.t.c.

●        Women need full encouragement in adopting in any career of their choices to carve their hidden talent.

●        Women need to have equal rights to participate in education, society, economics and politics. They should be allowed to have higher education and treated in the way like men.

●        They are entitled to get proper and effective judicial help whenever they face any molestation, or any misbehavior.

●        Women should be given opportunities to use their talent to eradicate unemployment in the country with the help of women empowerment. Whenever women are facing unemployment, their true potential is left without any use. To make use of the strength and potential of the women, they must be provided with equal opportunities.

The 21st century has brought a new hope and has empowered women in a positive manner. Earlier they were under the shadow of a husband or a father, but now they have established their own identity and are independent.

The role of women has changed tremendously and they have been able to create a positive impression in the society. From housewives to CEOs, the transition can be seen at an accelerating rate. Modernization and the advent of the latest technology have widened hope and opportunities for them. They have established themselves socially, politically and economically in almost every field. Women are no longer considered unfit or weak for military or for other defense forces. Recently, Avani Chaturvedi has set a perfect example and has created a milestone by becoming India’s first female fighter pilot.

The journey of liberation of women has crossed many milestones and the society has indeed come a long way. They have struggled hard over the last few decades but still been able to successfully establish their own identity. Today’s women are adorned with patience and perseverance, which has helped them to attain the pinnacle of success. Earlier, women were seen only as housewives who were projected to cook, clean and take care of their family. Today- along with handling tough clients at office, they successfully multitask at home too. Women are more focused and have a unique decision making power even at senior leadership level, in the most optimal manner, and at times are in a better position than men. Empowering women can help the society to grow and develop at a faster pace. We are definitely redesigning the world!

I have grown up in a generation in which terms such as “women's lib,” “feminism,” “equal rights,” and “egalitarian marriage” are practically household words.

Our society no longer promotes God's values for the woman. Femininity, modesty, discretion, virtue, and graciousness are seemingly relics of a bygone era—as out of place in contemporary culture as the horse and carriage.

Instead, the “ideal” woman of our age is glamorous, sophisticated, aggressive, powerful, outspoken, career-minded, independent, self-sufficient, and sensuous. She needs no one and nothing. She is in control of her own life, as well as the people and circumstances around her. But a women should be what her mind says to her, she should choose to be what she wants. That’s the real feminism which respects every woman’s choices. This is why

The theme for this year’s International Women’s Day is #ChooseToChallenge. It indicates that a “challenged world is an alert world, and from challenge comes change”.

This year, we can all choose to challenge everything that has been holding us back, and become better allies.

 

So, I would like to end this article:

Happy #sheday to every human.

Let her feel a part of this universe,

Not to make increase in numbers in numbers,

But to count those numbers equally precious.

#shedoesn’tneedanyadjective

#shethepower