International Women's Day is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. This is a contribution over and above their true and priceless contribution of creation of mankind for which we will always remain indebted! The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender justice. Notice that I am not using the often used phrase ‘gender parity’ for truly there can be no parity with the creator; the world owes them justice and deserving place in both our lives and our society. Significant activity will be witnessed worldwide as groups will come together to celebrate women's achievements or rally for women's empowerment.
The world has witnessed a significant change and attitudinal shift in both women's and society's thoughts about women's equality and emancipation. Many from a younger generation in developed countries may feel that 'all the battles have been won for women' while many in the developing world know only too well the longevity and ingrained complexity of patriarchy. With more women in the boardroom, greater equality in legislative rights, and an increased critical mass of women's visibility as impressive role models in every aspect of life, one could think that women have gained true equality. The unfortunate fact is that women are still not paid equally to that of their male counterparts, not even Tennis stars and golfers, women still are not present in equal numbers in business or politics, and globally women's education, health and the violence against them is worse than that of men. However, undoubtedly great improvements have been made. We do have female astronauts, fighter pilots, nuclear scientists and prime ministers, school girls are welcomed into university, women can work and have a family, women have real choices.
History:
International Women's Day (IWD) has been observed since the early 1900’s. This was a time of great expansion and turbulence in the industrialized world that saw booming population growth and the rise of radical ideologies. Great unrest and critical debate was occurring among women. Women's oppression and inequality was spurring women to become more vocal and active in campaigning for change. In 1908, 15,000 women marched through New York City demanding shorter hours, better pay and voting rights. In accordance with a declaration by the Socialist Party of America, the first National Woman's Day (NWD) was observed across the United States on February 28. Women continued to celebrate NWD on the last Sunday of February until 1913.
On the eve of World War I campaigning for peace, Russian women observed their first International Women's Day on February 23, the last Sunday in February. Following discussions, International Women's Day was agreed to be marked annually on March 8 and this day has remained the global date for International Women's Day ever since. In 1914, further women across Europe held rallies to campaign against the war and to express women's solidarity. Russian women began a strike for "bread and peace" in response to the death of over 2 million Russian soldiers in World War 1. Opposed by political leaders, the women continued to strike until four days later the Czar was forced to abdicate and the provisional Government granted women the right to vote.
International Women’s Day in the U.N.
International Women's Day was celebrated for the first time by the United Nations in 1975. Then in December 1977, the General Assembly adopted a resolution proclaiming a United Nations Day for Women’s Rights and International Peace to be observed on any day of the year by Member States, in accordance with their historical and national traditions. The UN announced their first annual theme "Celebrating the past, Planning for the Future" which was followed in 1997 with "Women at the Peace table", in 1998 with "Women and Human Rights", in 1999 with "World Free of Violence Against Women", and so on each year.
2011 saw the 100 year centenary of International Women's Day - with the first IWD event held exactly 100 years ago in 1911 in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland. In the United States, President Barack Obama proclaimed March 2011 to be "Women's History Month", calling Americans to mark IWD by reflecting on "the extraordinary accomplishments of women" in shaping the country's history.
The India story
We have been celebrating International Women’s Day since 1913 and have surely come a long way, but we have miles to go. While the country has produced a woman President, a woman Prime Minister, a woman speaker, innumerable women scientists, doctors, engineers, artists, journalists, teachers and legal luminaries, gender justice is still nowhere round the corner. The ingrained patriarchy in our society makes our girl child’s life endangered right from the foetal stage till her advanced age. Female feticide, high infant mortality rates, eve teasing, rape, unequal educational options, unequal job opportunities, inconsiderate labour laws and a fear of orthodoxy and khap culture all together are keeping the better half of our society in shackles. Not only do we require a better climate for them to bloom to live their dreams and achieve their fullest potentials but we need a change in the attitude of the men folk to appreciate the true ‘nari shakti’. We cannot become a developed nation if half of our population is not allowed to contribute to the fullest. Having a President or a Prime Minister once in a while then becomes simply symbolic tokenism and an aberration.
There's no place for complacency. According to the World Economic Forum, sadly none of us will see gender justice in our lifetimes, and nor likely will many of our children. Gender parity will not be attained for almost a century.
There's urgent work to do - and we can all play a part, not just the women.
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