International Women’s Day

International Women’s Day has been observed since in the early 1900’s, a time of great expansion and turbulence in the industrialized world that saw booming population growth and the rise of radical ideologies. Annually on 8 March, thousands of events are held throughout the world to inspire women and celebrate achievements to celebrate International Women’s Day. The events range from small random informal gatherings to large-scale highly organised events. All of these celebrate women’s advancement and highlight the need for continued vigilance and action. The theme for 2010 is: Equal rights, equal opportunities: Progress for all
International Women’s Day is now an official holiday in many countries and the tradition sees men honouring their mothers, wives, girlfriends, colleagues, etc with flowers and small gifts. In some countries International Women’s Day has the equivalent status of Mother’s Day where children give small presents to their mothers and grandmothers.

The new millennium has witnessed a significant change and in attitude in both women’s and society’s thoughts about women’s equality and emancipation. Many from a younger generation feel that ‘all the battles have been won for women’, while many feminists from the 1970’s know only too well the longevity and ingrained complexity of patriarchy. With more women in the boardroom, greater equality in legislative rights and an increased critical mass of women’s visibility as impressive role models in every aspect of life, one could think that women have gained true equality. The unfortunate fact is that women are still not paid equally to that of their male counterparts. Women still are not present in equal numbers in business or politics and globally women’s education, health and the violence against them is still worse than that of men.
Great improvements have been made. We do have female astronauts and prime ministers, school girls are welcomed into university, women can work and have a family. Women have real choices and so the tone and nature of International Women’s Day has, for the past few years, moved from being a reminder about the negatives, to a celebration of the positives. Many global corporations have also started to more actively support International Women’s Day by running their own internal events and through supporting external ones. Every year International Women’s Day is increasing in status with the United States designating the whole month of March as ‘Women’s History Month’.

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.