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International Women's Day originated in the early 20th century from labor movements in North America and Europe, with the first National Woman's Day held on February 28, 1909, in the U.S.. It was established to campaign for women's suffrage, better pay, and shorter working hours. The date shifted to March 8 following a major 1917
- 1908–1909: Following a 1908 garment workers' strike in NYC, the Socialist Party of Americaorganized the first National Woman's Day on Feb 28, 1909.
- 1910: Clara Zetkin, a German socialist, proposed an annual International Women's Day at the International Conference of Working Women in Copenhagen to promote equal rights and suffrage.
- 1911: The first International Women's Day was marked on March 19, 1911, by over a million people in Austria, Denmark, Germany, and Switzerland.
- 1917: On March 8 (which was Feb 23 on the Julian calendar), Russian women began a "Bread and Peace" strike against WWI and for Czarist abdication. This date became the permanent, internationally recognized day for the celebration.
- 1975/1977: The United Nations officially recognized International Women's Day on March 8. Wikipedia +8
While rooted in socialist and labor movements, the day has evolved into a global, annual celebration of women's achievements and a call to action for gender equality.
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