International Women’s Day, IWD, (March 8th) is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating women’s equality.
IWD has a long and powerful history of collective action, with many groups, countries, and bodies having actively contributed to its evolution. Today, IWD is a highly visible worldwide occurrence with significant mainstream awareness, marked by groups worldwide in a wide variety of ways.
At the current rate of progress, it will take until 2158, which is roughly five generations from now, to reach full gender parity, according to data from the World Economic Forum.
What are the aims of IWD?
- Celebrate women’s achievements through recognising and appreciating the contributions of women in various fields, highlighting their influence and successes throughout history and in the present day.
- Raise awareness of gender inequality through shining a light on persistent issues like the gender pay gap, lack of representation in leadership roles, gender-based violence, and unequal access to education and opportunities.
- Mobilise action for equality through encouraging individuals, communities, and organisations to take steps toward creating a more inclusive and equitable world for women.
- Donate and fundraise for women-focused charities and elevate the visibility of their work
- Foster solidarity among people of all genders in support of women’s rights and gender parity worldwide.
What are the colours of IWD?
Purple, green, and white are the colours of women’s suffrage and are widely adopted for IWD. Their use originated from the Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU) in the UK, founded in 1903.
Purple signifies justice, dignity and being loyal to the cause.
Green symbolises hope.
White represents purity. The wearing of white is a symbol of sisterhood and solidarity, respecting and representing the progress made by those who have fought for women’s suffrage
So how did IWD Start?
Many first wave feminist groups, such as the suffragettes and suffragists, played a foundational role in shaping IWD by championing women’s rights, particularly voting rights, and laying the groundwork for broader feminist movements. Additionally, many feminists educated about gender inequality and rallied support for a better world for women, such as Simone de Beauvoir, Virginia Woolf, Betty Friedan, and Gloria Steinem. There are many groups and events that have actively forged IWD to become what it is today. Here are some key events:
- 1776 – Abigail Smith Adams, First Lady to President John Adams, writes her ‘Remember the Ladies’ letter on March 31st urging that Continental Congress consider women’s rights and protections when drafting new laws for the newly independent nation of America which, on July 4th, adopted the Declaration of Independence.
- 1792 – English author, Mary Wollstonecraft, advocates for educational and social equality for women in her book ‘A Vindication of the Rights of Woman.’
- 1857 – First organized strike by women workers occurs in New York City on March 8th with a protest march by women textile workers calling for fair working conditions with a shorter workday and decent wages, alongside equal rights.
- 1903 – Independent women’s movement, Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU), is founded by Emmeline Pankhurst in Manchester, England.
- 1907 – First edition of Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU) newspaper ‘Votes for Women’ is launched.
- 1908 – Women workers in needle trades march through New York City’s Lower East Side on March 8th, protesting about child labour and sweatshop working conditions, and demanding women’s suffrage.
- 1909 – Theresa Malkiel, head of Socialist Party of America’s Woman’s National Committee, conceives a ‘National Woman’s Day,’ later designated by the party
- 1910 – Clara Zetkin, leader of Women’s Office for the Social Democratic Party in Germany, tables the idea of an International Women’s Day at the Second International Socialist Women’s Conference, which receives unanimous support from over one hundred women representing 17 countries.
- 1911 – IWD is marked for the first time in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland, on March 19th, with more than one million women and men attending rallies.
- 1911 – Sixth Conference of International Woman Suffrage Alliance is held in Stockholm, Sweden.
- 1911 – UK Suffragette, Estelle Sylvia Pankhurst, publishes “The Suffragette: The History Of The Women’s Militant Suffrage Movement, 1905-1910.”
- 1913 – First observance of IWD in Russia, with socialist women organizing protests and rallies demanding better working conditions, equal rights, and the right to vote.
- 1914 – Women’s suffrage march is held in London, England from Bow to Trafalgar Square, with suffragette Sylvia Pankhurst arrested in front of Charing Cross station on her way to address the march.
- 1917 – Women in Russia strike for ‘bread and peace,’ protesting against food shortages, poor living conditions, and World War I.
- 1928 – First IWD rally is held in Australia in Sydney, organized by Militant Women’s Group of the Communist Party.
- 1975 – United Nations marks IWD, setting 1975 as International Women’s Year.
- 1977 – United Nations invites its Member States to mark “any day of the year” as a “Day for Women’s Rights and International Peace,” in accordance with historical and national traditions.
- 2003 – IWD march in Mexico City on March 8th becomes one of the largest IWD events globally, with hundreds of thousands of participants. March 9th is #UNDÍASINNOSOTRAS, ‘A Day Without Us’, where women ‘disappear’ by not going to work, school, public spaces, etc, to highlight women’s importance and work in Mexican society.
- 2010 – United Nations launches gender equality body, UN Women.
- 2013 – Beyoncé first marks IWD sharing a powerful message on Instagram.
- 2014 -Beyoncé posts IWD video across social media, and continues annual IWD messages of inspiration receiving millions of likes.
- 2017 – Madonna marks IWD with 12-minute film, ‘Her-Story,’ dedicated to women who fight for freedom.
- 2018 – Lady Gaga posts IWD message on social media and continues with ongoing posts viewed by millions.
- 2019 – Largest international IWD concert, ‘Global Citizen Festival: Power of Women,’ is held in New York City with performances from Cardi B.
- 2026 and beyond – IWD continues to see exponential globalized growth as a prolific, mainstream movement participated in by millions worldwide. Celebrities, world leaders, major brands, governments, and many diverse groups collectively support IWD in their vastly different and highly varied ways.
For more information on how to get involved this year, head to International Women’s Day 2026 https://www.internationalwomensday.com/
