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International Women's Day (iwd)

Discussion in 'Snippets of Life (Non-Fiction)' started by GeetaKashyap, Mar 7, 2018.

  1. GeetaKashyap

    GeetaKashyap IL Hall of Fame

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    International Women's Day (IWD).......8th March.


    Today is International Women’s Day. What does it mean to ordinary women in India and how many of them are aware of its significance?

    International Women's Day (IWD), marked annually on March 8, it is a major day of global celebration for the economic, political, and social achievements of women.

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    In the latter half of the turbulent nineteenth century amid rapid world industrialisation, there was great population growth and many new ideas were being born. Women began to seek better treatment at their work sites and other rights. On March 8, 1857, women garment workers in New York City demonstrated against their inhumane working conditions and low wages. They were attacked by the police and dispersed. Two years later, the first female labour union was formed by these women to try to protect themselves, asking for basic rights in the workplace.

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    On March 8, 1908, 15,000 women marched through New York City demanding shorter work hours, better pay, voting rights, and an end to child labour. Their slogan was "Bread and Roses," bread symbolising economic security, and roses meaning a better quality of life. In May, the Socialist Party of America designated the last Sunday in February for the observance of National Women's Day. Following the Socialist Party's declaration, the first ever National Woman's Day was celebrated in the United States on February 28, 1909. Women continued to celebrate it on the last Sunday of that month through 1913.

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    Clara Zetkin (left) and Rosa Luxemburg, 1910


    In 1910 a second International Conference of Working Women was held in Copenhagen. A woman named Clara Zetkin (Leader of the 'Women's Office' for the Social Democratic Party in Germany) tabled the idea of an International Women's Day. She proposed that every year in every country there should be a celebration on the same day - a Women's Day - to press for their demands. The conference of over 100 women from 17 countries, representing unions, socialist parties, working women's clubs - and including the first three women elected to the Finnish parliament - greeted Zetkin's suggestion with unanimous approval and thus International Women's Day was the result.

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    2011 saw the 100 year centenary of International Women's Day

    IWD is a recognised holiday in 27 countries. It was observed as a global event by western nations when the United Nations General Assembly invited its members to dedicate March 8th as the UN day for women’s rights in 1977

    A global web of rich and diverse local activity connects women from all around the world ranging from political rallies, business conferences, and government activities and networking events through to local women's craft markets, theatric performances, fashion parades and more. Many global corporations actively support IWD by running their own events and campaigns. For example, on 8 March search engine and media giant Google often changes its Google Doodle on its global search pages to honour IWD. Year on year IWD is certainly increasing in status.No one government, NGO, charity, corporation, academic institution, women's network or media hub is solely responsible for International Women's Day. Many organisations declare an annual IWD theme that supports their specific agenda or cause, and some of these are adopted more widely with relevance than others.

    "The story of women's struggle for equality belongs to no single feminist nor to any one organisation but to the collective efforts of all who care about human rights," says world-renowned feminist, journalist and social and political activist Gloria Steinem. This International Women's Day is all about unity, celebration, reflection, advocacy and action - whatever that looks like globally at a local level. But one thing is for sure, International Women's Day has been occurring for well over a century - and continue's to grow from strength to strength.

    As a result of the international focus on Women in 1975, a number of institutions were established:

    • International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women (INSTRAW)
    • United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM)
    • International Women's Tribune Center, 1976
    • Women's Studies Resource Centre was established in South Australia during July
    • Women's Electoral Lobby in South Australia
    Also, the United Nations has made women's issues a high priority item on their Millennium Development Goals (MDG).

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    International Women's Day being marked in Tokyo last year as protesters gathered to march against the gender pay gap and sexual harassment.


    #PledgeForParity was the IWD theme for 2016
    #BeBoldForChange was the IWD theme for 2017
    #PressforProgress is the IWD theme for 2018

    With the World Economic Forum's 2017 Global Gender Gap Report findings telling us that gender parity is over 217 years away - there has never been a more important time to keep motivated and #PressforProgress. And with global activism for women's equality fuelled by movements like #MeToo, #TimesUp and more - there is a strong global momentum striving for gender parity.

    And while we know that gender parity won't happen overnight, the good news is that across the world women are making positive gains day by day. Plus, there's indeed a very strong and growing global movement of advocacy, activism and support.

    So we can't be complacent. Now, more than ever, there's a strong call-to-action to press forward and progress gender parity. A strong call to #PressforProgress. A strong call to motivate and unite friends, colleagues and whole communities to think, act and be gender inclusive.

    International Women's Day is not a country, group or organisation specific. The day belongs to all groups collectively everywhere. So together, let's all be tenacious in accelerating gender parity. Collectively, let's all Press for Progress.

    The website argues: "We can't be complacent. Now, more than ever, there's a strong call-to-action to press forward and progress gender parity.

    "A strong call to #PressforProgress. A strong call to motivate and unite friends, colleagues and whole communities to think, act and be gender inclusive."

    So make a difference, think globally and act locally! Make everyday International Women's Day. Do your bit to ensure that the future for girls is bright, equal, safe and rewarding.

    Source:
    About International Women's Day
    International Women's Day - #PressforProgress

    International Women's Day - New World Encyclopedia
    When is International Women's Day 2018 and how is it celebrated?


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    Happy women’s day to all the members of IndusLadies
     
    Last edited: Mar 7, 2018
    Amica, iyerviji, Adharv and 11 others like this.
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  2. nandinimithun

    nandinimithun IL Hall of Fame

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    Geets,
    Such an informative and useful post.... I wasnt aware of many things....
    Love the way you research, analyse, gather the data and then write a beautiful post....
    Totally loved it....
    Happy women’s day to all the wonderful women here in IL....
     
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  3. GeetaKashyap

    GeetaKashyap IL Hall of Fame

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    Dear Nandu,

    This is such an important event, yet very few people are aware of it. I too learnt about it, in detail, only last year.

    Thanks for the first feedback.
     
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  4. MonikaSG

    MonikaSG Platinum IL'ite

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    Nice informative post. I never tried to know about it. But once in my office during WD celebration I got the gift of big earrings for wearing the biggest earrings among all ladies in the office. I had a huge collection of that.:p Now I wear only small gold tops.
     
  5. Sandycandy

    Sandycandy IL Hall of Fame

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    Happy women’s day !! Thanks for the write up and reminding us !

    Everyday is woeman’s day for me ;)
     
  6. GeetaKashyap

    GeetaKashyap IL Hall of Fame

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    Thanks for the fb, Monika. Nice to know about your earrings:) When we understand the real events that gave birth to this day, we will be able to appreciate our today's positions better.
     
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  7. GeetaKashyap

    GeetaKashyap IL Hall of Fame

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    Sandy, height of positivity n optimism! Amen.
     
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  8. Frangipani

    Frangipani Silver IL'ite

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    Happy women’s day to you Geeta.

    I was expecting a lot of enthusiasm and lots of activities on Indusladies today, but everything is so thanda here . :hushed:
     
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  9. periamma

    periamma IL Hall of Fame

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    @GeetaKashyap Vast information on IWD.HAPPY WOMEN'S DAY GEETA
     
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  10. GeetaKashyap

    GeetaKashyap IL Hall of Fame

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    Happy women's day to you too, dear @Frangipani. I am also quite disappointed to see lack of enthusiasm for an important event:(
     
    Frangipani likes this.

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