Many organizations declare an
annual IWD theme that supports
their specific agenda or cause,
and some of these are adopted
more widely with relevance than
others. International Women's Day
is a collective day of global
celebration and a call for gender
parity.
International Women's Day is all
about unity celebration, reflection,
advocacy and action whatever that
looks like globally at a local level.
But one thing is for sure,
International Women's Day has
been occurring for well over a
century and continue's to grow
from strength to strength. Learn
about the values that guide IWD's
ethos.
What colours signify
International
Women's Day?
Internationally, purple is a
colour for symbolising women.
Historically the combination of
purple, green and white to
symbolise women equality
originated from the Women's
Social and Political Union in
the UK in 1908.
Purple signifies justice and
dignity. Green symbolises
hope. White represents purity,
but is no longer used due to
'purity' being a controversial
concept.
1909
In accordance with a
declaration by the Socialist
Party of America, the first
National Women's Day (NWD)
was observed across the
United States on 28 February.
Women continued to celebrate
NWD on the last Sunday of
February until 1913.
What's the history of
International
1910
Women's Day
(IWD)?
In 1910 a second International
International Women's Day
(IWD) has been observed since
the early 1900's - a time of
expansion and turbulence in the
industrialized world that saw
booming population growth and
the rise of radical ideologies.
1908
Great unrest and critical debate
was occurring amongst women.
Women's oppression and
inequality was spurring women
to become more vocal and
active in campaigning for
change. Then in 1908, 15,000
women marched through New
York City demanding shorter
hours, better pay and voting
rights.
Conference of Working Women
was held in Copenhagen. A
woman named Clara Zetkin
(Leader of the Women's Office
for the Social Democratic Party
in Germany) tabled the idea of
an International Women's Day.
She proposed that every year
in every country there should
be a celebration on the same
day - a Women's Day - to press
for their demands.
1911
International Women's Day was
honoured the first time in
Austria, Denmark, Germany
and Switzerland on 19 March.