History of International Women’s Day & Waves of Feminism
Background
International Women’s Day (IWD) is a global day that celebrates women’s social, economic, cultural, and political achievements. The day also serves as a call to action for gender equality and women’s rights. Here is a detailed history of International Women’s Day, divided into headlines:
The Beginning of Women’s Day: In 1909, the first National Woman’s Day was observed in the United States on February 28th to honor the 1908 garment workers’ strike in New York City, where women workers protested against poor working conditions and low wages.
The Proposal for an International Women’s Day: In 1910, Clara Zetkin, a German Marxist, proposed an International Women’s Day at the International Conference of Working Women in Copenhagen to promote women’s rights and suffrage across the world.
The First International Women’s Day: On March 19, 1911, International Women’s Day was celebrated for the first time in Austria, Denmark, Germany, and Switzerland. Over one million women and men attended rallies in support of women’s rights, including the right to vote, work, and hold public office.
Women’s Day during World War I: During World War I, International Women’s Day became a way to protest against the war and call for peace. Women in Russia, in particular, observed Women’s Day on the last Sunday of February (according to the Julian calendar then in use), which led to the February Revolution in 1917.
Women’s Day under Communist Regimes: In 1917, the Bolsheviks in Russia declared Women’s Day an official holiday, and it became a national holiday in the Soviet Union until its collapse in 1991. Other socialist and communist countries, including China and Cuba, also observed Women’s Day as a national holiday.
Women’s Day in the United Nations: In 1975, the United Nations began celebrating International Women’s Day on March 8th, recognizing it as a day to raise awareness of women’s rights and gender equality globally.
Women’s Day in the 21st Century: In recent years, International Women’s Day has become a global movement, with events and campaigns to promote women’s rights, gender equality, and women’s empowerment. The day is marked with marches, rallies, panel discussions, and other events around the world.
Overall, International Women’s Day has a rich history of promoting women’s rights and gender equality, from its early roots in labor movements to its current global recognition as a day to celebrate women’s achievements and advocate for women’s rights.
Waves of Feminism
Feminism is a social, political, and cultural movement that advocates for women’s rights and gender equality. Over the past two centuries, there have been several waves of feminism, each with its own goals, strategies, and accomplishments. Here is a detailed history of the waves of feminism, divided into headlines:
First Wave Feminism (Late 19th and early 20th centuries)
The first wave of feminism began in the late 19th and early 20th centuries in response to women’s lack of political and legal rights, including the right to vote and the right to own property.
Key Activists: Key activists during this time included suffragists such as Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton in the United States, and Emmeline Pankhurst and Millicent Fawcett in the United Kingdom.
Achievements: The first wave of feminism achieved significant milestones, including the right to vote for women in the United States with the passage of the 19th Amendment in 1920 and in the United Kingdom with the Representation of the People Act 1918.
Second Wave Feminism (1960s to 1980s)
The second wave of feminism began in the 1960s and lasted until the 1980s. It focused on issues such as reproductive rights, workplace discrimination, and sexual harassment.
Key Activists: Key activists during this time included Gloria Steinem, Betty Friedan, Angela Davis, and Audre Lorde.
Achievements: The second wave of feminism achieved several milestones, including the legalization of abortion in the United States with the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision in 1973, the passage of Title IX of the Education Amendments Act in 1972, which prohibited gender discrimination in education, and the establishment of rape crisis centers and domestic violence shelters.
Third Wave Feminism (1990s to early 2000s)
The third wave of feminism began in the 1990s and continued into the early 2000s. It focused on issues such as intersectionality, body image, and sex positivity.
Key Activists: Key activists during this time included Rebecca Walker, bell hooks, Gloria Anzaldúa, and Naomi Wolf.
Achievements: The third wave of feminism achieved several milestones, including the establishment of the Women’s Health Movement and the passage of the Violence Against Women Act in the United States.
Fourth Wave Feminism (2010s to present)
The fourth wave of feminism began in the 2010s and is ongoing. It focuses on issues such as online harassment, transgender rights, and the #MeToo movement.
Key Activists: Key activists during this time include Tarana Burke, who started the #MeToo movement, and Malala Yousafzai, who advocates for girls’ education.
Achievements: The fourth wave of feminism has achieved several milestones, including the exposure of widespread sexual harassment and assault through the #MeToo movement, and the establishment of policies to address gender inequality in the workplace.
The waves of feminism have been instrumental in advancing women’s rights and promoting gender equality. Each wave has built on the achievements of the previous wave and has addressed new and pressing issues facing women today.