WHY AND WHEN INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY BEGAN TO BE CELEBRATED

Across the world, March 8 marks International Women’s Day, a symbol of the ongoing struggle for economic, political, and social equality between men and women.

The first observance of Women's Day took place on February 28, 1909, in the United States, following a declaration by the Socialist Party of America. The idea of celebrating International Women's Day emerged in the early 20th century, during a period of rapid industrialization and economic expansion, which often led to protests over poor working conditions.

Women working in the garment and textile industries staged their first public protest on March 8, 1857, in New York City, demanding better working conditions and higher wages. The police forcibly dispersed the demonstrators, but two months later, the women established a labor union.

Over the following years, March 8 protests became a tradition, with the largest demonstration occurring in 1908, when 15,000 women marched through the streets of New York, demanding shorter working hours, better wages, and the right to vote.

The first international women’s conference was held in Copenhagen in 1910, organized by the Socialist International. During this conference, German socialist Clara Zetkin proposed the establishment of International Women’s Day. The following year, the day was observed in Austria, Denmark, Germany, and Switzerland.

In Russia, International Women’s Day demonstrations played a crucial role in the early stages of the Russian Revolution. After the October Revolution, Bolshevik feminist Alexandra Kollontai convinced Vladimir Lenin to declare March 8 a national holiday, which, during the Soviet era, was used to celebrate the "heroism of working women."

However, in many communist countries, the holiday gradually lost its ideological foundation and instead became an occasion for men to express love and appreciation for women.

In 1975, which was declared the International Women's Year, the United Nations officially began celebrating this day under the name International Women’s Day. Two years later, the UN General Assembly passed a resolution proclaiming March 8 as the Day of Women's Rights and International Peace.