{"id":20202,"date":"2022-03-27T17:03:13","date_gmt":"2022-03-27T15:03:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.humanrightscareers.com\/?p=20202"},"modified":"2024-08-28T21:48:28","modified_gmt":"2024-08-28T19:48:28","slug":"why-international-womens-day-is-important","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.humanrightscareers.com\/issues\/why-international-womens-day-is-important\/","title":{"rendered":"10 Reasons Why International Women\u2019s Day Is Important"},"content":{"rendered":"

Every March 8th, the world recognizes International Women\u2019s Day. It\u2019s a day to celebrate the accomplishments of women in areas like culture, politics, the economy, and society at large. Why does this matter? Here are ten reasons:<\/p>\n

#1. Each year explores a theme<\/strong><\/h2>\n

There are many topics related to women\u2019s rights and gender equality<\/a>, so it\u2019s only fitting that each International Women\u2019s Day (IWD) highlights a specific theme. 2022\u2019s theme was \u201cGender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow.\u201d It focused on gender equality in the context of environmental and disaster risk reduction, as well as climate change. These issues affect everyone, but women are in more danger<\/a> because they make up more of the world\u2019s poorest communities. Focusing each IWD on a specific theme raises awareness of challenges like climate change.<\/p>\n

#2. The day has a long history <\/strong><\/h2>\n

Today, International Women\u2019s Day is a global event focusing on women\u2019s rights and gender equality, but it originated as part of the labor and voting rights movements. In 1910, Clara Zetkin, a German communist\/socialist and women\u2019s rights activist, proposed the idea of an international day at a conference. The 100 women present, who represented 17 countries, all agreed. The first International Women\u2019s Day <\/a>was celebrated in 1911 in Austria, Denmark, Switzerland, and Germany. It wasn\u2019t until 1977 that the United Nations adopted March 8th as a global holiday. Understanding IWD\u2019s origin helps us better hold to the spirit of the day: radical change.<\/p>\n

You may also like: International Women’s Health and Human Rights<\/a> (Online Course) offered by Stanford University<\/strong><\/p>\n

#3. It\u2019s an opportunity to celebrate women\u2019s accomplishments<\/strong><\/h2>\n

History bursts with important events that have made the world a better place. Women have always played essential roles<\/a> in the movements for voting rights, civil rights, LGBTQ+ rights, labor rights, children\u2019s rights<\/a>, and much more. They\u2019ve also accomplished great things in every field, including medicine, science, literature, and politics. International Women\u2019s Day is a great opportunity to recognize all these successes.<\/p>\n

#4. The day highlights the work that remains to be done <\/strong><\/h2>\n

While International Women\u2019s Day celebrates how far women\u2019s rights and gender equality have come, it\u2019s also important to recognize what still needs to be done. According to the United Nations<\/a>, women make up 70% of the world\u2019s 1.3 billion people in poverty. Of those displaced by climate-related disasters, 80% are women and girls. The pandemic worsened things for women and girls, as well. A study published in The Lancet<\/a> found that women experienced worse social and economic consequences than men. It will take a concentrated effort to reverse the effects.<\/p>\n

#5. It\u2019s an opportunity to raise funds for women\u2019s issues <\/strong><\/h2>\n

When International Women\u2019s Day comes along, it\u2019s a great opportunity to donate to respected organizations working for gender equality and women\u2019s rights. There are many to choose from including international organizations<\/a> like The Center for Reproductive Rights, Amnesty International, Save the Children, and Global Grassroots. Many local organizations and activists plan special campaigns for IWD, so check your local area if you want to donate or promote a fundraising event.<\/p>\n

#6. It\u2019s an opportunity for schools and organizations to provide education <\/strong><\/h2>\n

While women\u2019s rights and gender equality are always important<\/a> topics to learn about, international days are opportunities for more focused education and awareness. By marking a specific day, there\u2019s a concentrated influx of info and education that isn\u2019t normally present. Schools can find resources online or host events, workshops, and other collaborations. Any organization can take advantage of IWD to focus on the women\u2019s rights most relevant to their mission. For example, a clothing brand can provide education on the garment industry\u2019s history of exploitation, as well as initiatives to improve the treatment of female workers.<\/p>\n

#7. It\u2019s an opportunity to check on corporations that claim to be progressive<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Lots of corporations use the language of progress and the promise of gender equality for good branding. Many don\u2019t follow through. International Women\u2019s Day<\/a> is a great day to check on corporations and see if they\u2019re pursuing gender equality, whether it\u2019s giving money toward causes or improving parity within their own organization. Many corporations make promises on IWD, so take note of any you see and commit to checking in later. Like governments, corporations should be held accountable for their women\u2019s rights records.<\/p>\n

#8. The day connects people from around the world <\/strong><\/h2>\n

As the name says, International Women\u2019s Day is about women from all around the world. IWD is a day to celebrate activists<\/a> on a global level, raising awareness of their work and the challenges they face. It\u2019s also a great opportunity to network and connect with people committed to gender equality. Thanks to social media, connection on an international level is much easier than in the past. Connections made because of IWD can lead to long-term collaboration, friendships, and financial support.<\/p>\n

#9. It\u2019s an opportunity to reflect on your own life <\/strong><\/h2>\n

Our world has a long history of discrimination against women (which has intersectional implications<\/a>), so anyone can have biases whether they know it or not. International Women\u2019s Day provides an opportunity to reflect on your own beliefs and craft a personal action plan. Think about areas where you might be uneducated or where you might have biases involving gender, sexuality, race, and so on. Commit to being more aware of your actions and educate yourself through books, classes, or other resources.<\/p>\n

#10. International Women\u2019s Day is a call to action <\/strong><\/h2>\n

IWD matters because at its core, it\u2019s a rallying cry. Some may use it to promote a rose-colored view of the world, but it\u2019s an essential reminder that progress doesn\u2019t happen by accident. All the accomplishments and successes the world celebrates didn\u2019t come easily, but they prove what\u2019s possible. As a call to action, International Women\u2019s Day tells us to look at where we\u2019ve been, see how far we\u2019ve come, and keep fighting for more<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":19,"featured_media":20214,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[8805],"tags":[12035],"class_list":["post-20202","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-issues","tag-iwd","generate-columns","tablet-grid-50","mobile-grid-100","grid-parent","grid-50"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n10 Reasons Why International Women\u2019s Day Is Important | Human Rights Careers<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" 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