March 8th is International Women's Day. And, as it is a national holiday in Rwanda, like many parts of the world, Kerry and I decided to teach our lesson this week about gender roles and gender equality.
And being the History major who likes too many details that I am, I did some background reading about the say, only to find out- it's a socialist holiday! woot!
The idea for a "Women's Day" was first publicly suggested in 1909 by the Socialist Party of America. In 1910, at the first International Women's Conference in Copenhagen, it was made an internationally recognized day, with no set date. It was to promote a better social standing for women, better working conditions, and recognize accomplishments.
In 1911 over 1 million people recognized the day on 19 March. On 25 March, that same year was the infamous Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire that killed 140 workers, all women. So International Women's Day was also used to remember these women.
In 1913 the day changed to 8 March when many women in Europe and North America used the day to protest for peace, against WWI. It stayed popular through the 1920s and then dwindled...
And then! in 1965 the Soviet Union made it an official state holiday, to be recognized like all others (ie no work) in recognition of the contributions of women to the Bolshevik Revolution.
It wasn't until 1975 that the UN recognized the day, when they designated that year as "International Women's Year." Now the day is used to recognize the contributions of women, promote women's issues: this year the red cross brought attention to the additional dangers and difficulties faced by women who are displaced by war and violence, especially those living in refugee camps.
And it is recognized as a national holiday in over 65 countries.
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