History of International Women's Day
Working class origins of International Women's Day
There are
two international days celebrated around the world that have its roots and
origins in international working class and socialist movement. The May Day and
International Women’s Day were initiated by ordinary working class men and
women. The international capitalist institutions like United Nations and
capitalist ruling elite recognised both days decades later.
Like the May
Day-International Women’s Day was first celebrated by the working class women
and Socialists. It is commonly accepted that International Women’s Day was born
out of the socialist movement in the early 20th century.
The birth of
International Women’s Day in the early 20th century was strongly linked to
labour movements and socialism. The women’s rights movement emerged with the
rise of working-class movements and was linked with revolutionary movements of
the working class for radical social transformation and reconstruction of
society. International Women’s Day inherited a tradition of protest and
political activism.
This day is
a reminder that all the democratic, economic, legal and political rights that
women enjoy today were won through struggle and sacrifice. It shows us what can
be achieved through struggle, solidarity and unity.
International
Women’s Day is the story of ordinary women as makers of history; it is rooted
in the centuries-old struggle of women to participate in society on an equal
footing with men. It is a global celebration of the social, economic, cultural
and political achievements of women.
Women’s day
is the celebration of the tradition of struggle, sacrifice and courage. This is
a tradition to convert pain, suffering and helplessness into strength and
power. Historically, the day was about highlighting the relationship between
capitalism and women’s oppression, and that remains significant today.
Capitalist
exploitation, repression, sexism, discrimination and gender inequality still
exist. In many countries around the world, women still face all sorts of
restrictions, social segregation and reactionary customs and medieval
traditions.
In 1907, the
women textile workers, facing long working hours, low pay, and dangerous
working conditions took to the streets of New York in protest. The economic and
social conditions forced them to enter into struggles and movements to change
their conditions.
In the years before 1910, from the turn of the
20th century, women in industrially developing countries were entering paid
work. Their jobs were mainly in textiles, manufacturing and domestic services
where conditions were wretched and wages even worse. They had no other option
but to fight back.
It all
started with a strike organised by young female garment workers in New York in
1908. Their victory inspired the Socialist Party of America to organise
‘Women’s Day’ marches across the country in March 1910. The New York march
demanded higher wages and better working conditions, along with women’s
suffrage.
This strike,
fought by thousands of young women who worked long hours for meager wages in
New York City’s garment factories, is one of the most important struggles in
the history of the US working class.
In 1910, an
International Socialist Women’s Conference, organised in Copenhagen and
including women from 17 countries, voted to establish an annual International
Woman’s Day to promote equal rights and women’s suffrage on the proposal of
German Socialists Clara Zetkin and Luise Zietz.
The first
International Women’s Day was celebrated on 19 March 1911, and more than one
million women and men from Austria, Denmark, Germany, and Switzerland
participated in IWD rallies. Demands such as an end to gender discrimination
and rights to work, train, vote, and hold political office were at the
forefront of their campaign.
At the
International Women’s Conference, which preceded the general meeting of the
Socialist Second International in Copenhagen in August 1910, leading German
socialists Luise Zietz and Clara Zetkin proposed the establishment of an annual
International Woman’s Day as a strategy to promote equal rights, including
suffrage, for women. More than 100 female delegates from 17 countries
unanimously endorsed the proposal.
In the
following years, similar events spread across the European continent. Generally
spearheaded by socialist women, demonstrations called for women’s rights and
female suffrage, and many feminists readily joined their socialist sisters.
Russian
women had first celebrated International Women’s Day on March 8 in 1913. The
Russian Revolution of 1917 was also triggered by women workers. It was on
International Women’s Day in 1917 that Russian women workers organised massive
strikes and demonstrations against war, high prices, and the situation of women
workers. The main slogan of this strike movement was Bread and Peace. The
strike movement spread very quickly, overturning the czarist dictatorship and
triggering the Russian Revolution that achieved final victory in October of
that same year.
International
Women’s Day had remained a communist holiday until the end of the 20th century,
to be precise in 1975, marked by carefully orchestrated, state-sponsored
celebrations of women’s contributions to the state.
During the
International Women’s Year in 1975, the United Nations first celebrated
International Women’s Day. Two years later, in 1977, the UN General Assembly
adopted a resolution proclaiming a United Nations Day for Women’s Rights and
International Peace.
Rukhsana Manzoor Deputy Editor
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