International Women’s Day
International Women’s Day is a global day of acknowledging the economic, cultural, social, and political achievements of women around the world. This year’s theme is #InspireInclusion, which celebrates diversity and inclusion for all (1).
History of International Women’s Day
The first National Women’s Day was celebrated in the United States on February 28, 1908. The Socialist Party of America organized this day in honor of the 1908 garment workers' strike in New York, where women protested poor working conditions (2).
In 1910 an International Women’s Conference was held in Copenhagen. A woman named Claire Zetkin suggested the idea of an International Women’s Day to honor the women’s rights movement and build support for universal equality. Following the establishment of International Women’s Day, the holiday was honored for the first time in 1911 in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland (3).
Following World War II, International Women’s Day was celebrated in a number of different countries. In 1975, the United Nations began celebrating March 8 as International Women's Day. Since then, the United Nations and its agencies have continued to work on gender equality worldwide (4). Today, International Women’s Day is celebrated all over the world as we strive to create a more equal and empowered society.
At Via Benefits we believe that inclusion and diversity is essential and fundamental to everything we do. We support gender equity by elevating female talent, including an emphasis on developing more women leaders, mentoring and connecting with clients and work-life balance. We stand with our female-identifying colleagues, clients and retirees in support to create a more inclusive world today and in the future.
Sources:
“International Women's Day 2024 Campaign Theme is Inspire Inclusion” International Women's Day, https://www.internationalwomensday.com/Theme.
“International Women's Day.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 12 Jan. 2023, https://www.britannica.com/topic/International-Womens-Day.
“History of International Women's Day.” International Women's Day, https://www.internationalwomensday.com/Activity/15586/The-history-of-IWD.
“Background | International Women's Day.” United Nations, United Nations, https://www.un.org/en/observances/womens-day/background.