International Women’s Day is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women, and calling for action to accelerate gender equality.
This is a big deal in some Latin communities. It is kind of a blend of Mother’s Day, Valentines Day and International Workers Day. The tradition is to give flowers, usually roses, to all the important women in your life, including your love, your family and your coworkers.
International Women’s Day 2023
The next International Women’s Day is Wednesday, March 8, 2023.
International Women’s Day is Huge Around the World
Everywhere around the world (but the United States, it seems), International Women’s Day is a day to recognize all the women in your life. It’s something of a combination of Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day, but includes family, friends, and work associates.
It is traditional for men to call the women in their life and give roses. (Most floral roses in the United States come from Colombia. Yay!). If the women in your life don’t at least get a call, you are likely to get in a little trouble. So guys don’t forget tu abuela (your grandmother), tu suegra (your mother-in-law), and tu hija (your daughter).
It has long mystified me why we women of the world don’t just put our foot down and say enough of this testosterone-fueled stupidity. Many traditions are patriarchal, but we have power to change because we raise the children and do other important things in life.
At least as far back as 411 BCE in classical Athens, Aristophanes’ play Lysistrata alluded to the power we have to end war and other bad ideas. Let’s use it.
The world’s first Women’s Day celebration was held in New York City in 1909. It was picked up by labor movements and rippled around the world. The United Nations began helping to popularize the event in 1977. Now it’s a cultural thing.
2022
The theme of International Women’s Day on Tuesday, March 8, 2021 is #BreakTheBias. This year’s symbol is a double karate chop.
2021
Monday, March 8, 2021 ~ This year’s theme is #ChooseToChallenge. Sometimes it takes really bad things to make people see what is right in front of their face. But nothing changes unless we actively challenge the status quo.
America is more aware than ever about inequality for women and especially women of color. That’s why we have to challenge the status quo, not with anger, always with cool.
It takes a cool head to make real and lasting change. Rosa Parks became the Mother of the Freedom Movement because she was firm, but courteous and kept her cool through something very upsetting. Her dignity made her a star.
Political power is an important step on the path to change. That’s why we need more women and women of color to run for political office – from the school board to the presidency.
2020
Sunday, March 8, 2020 ~ International Women’s Day makes a a cute equal sign the image of the day. InternationalWomensDay.com does one of these signs every year. It’s interesting how they have evolved from expressions of stop, to what’s with that?, to let’s get it together.
#IWD2020 #EachforEqual
2019
Celebrate the 2019 International Women’s Day on Friday, March 8, 2019.
International Women’s Day is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity.
The 2019 theme is Balance for Better. In this time of great social change, we are all looking for balance in our lives. Any society that blocks the creative energy of half its people is a failed society that cannot compete in the global marketplace.
A rising tide floats all boats. Together we can make this happen.
#IWD2019 #BalanceforBetter
2018
International Women’s Day 2018 is Thursday, March 8, 2018. The International Women’s Day 2018 theme is “PressforProgress,” a call to action to create a more gender-inclusive world.
It’s the #MeToo #TimesUp era. Nobody can save us but ourselves. More than anything, we need young women of color to step up and enter politics. The group of old white men who run the country today are screwing us over.
¡Basta ya! Enough already. Stand up and be counted. Be who you really are.
#PressforProgress
2017
The 2017 theme “Be Bold For Change,” calls for purposeful collaboration to create a more gender-inclusive world.
#IWD2017
#BeBoldForChange
PURPOSEFUL COLLABORATION is the key phrase here. It’s easy to protest and tear things down, but hard to create institutional change.
Find out more about what you can do at InternationalWomensDay.com
As the glue that holds families and communities together, we women have greater collaborative potential than men. No offense guys. Our brains are wired for collaboration. It is just more natural to us.
The festive Jewish holiday Purim is the day after International Women’s Day this year. Purim celebrates the biblical story of Esther, the Queen of Persia who saved her people from genocide by having the courage and wisdom to speak with her husband in a way he could understand, even though she was stepping out of her place. She didn’t just rage at him. She prepared herself spiritually and emotionally first. She got the job done.
In the same spirit, our country and the world need our wisdom, energy, and courage more than ever.
Women’s March
The entire world was surprised by the energy of the Women’s March on Washington last January 21. Over 1 million women marched on Washington D.C., and over 5 million women participated worldwide.
The Women’s March is working on turning our energy into positive action. You can find out more about what your sisters are doing at WomensMarch.com
A Day Without A Woman
There are calls to make the next International Women’s Day, “A Day Without A Woman.”
The Women’s March is asking women to take the day off from work and home, avoid shopping (except at small women- and minority-owned businesses), and wear red.
It’s true that if we just stopped contributing, the world would stumble. It would be like losing one leg in mid-stride.
That only works if many of us participate. It’s not a bad idea, but we encourage you to get permission from work before just taking a day off.
In the spirit of PURPOSEFUL COLLABORATION, don’t just take the day off alone. Let’s not let this be only a day of complaint. It’s a day to start working together at another level. We have to show the way.
You can find out more about how women can show our importance to society at WomensMarch.com/womensday
If you are holding an event in New York City for International Women’s Day, inspire us.
United we stand, divided we fall.