International Women's Day: What It Is and How to Celebrate

By: Maiya Brock

Overview

International Women's Day (IWD) is globally recognized on March 8 as a day to honor women's accomplishments, raise awareness about women's equality, and promote positive change for women. During IWD people come together to celebrate women and call for gender equality.

Supporting and celebrating women is so important to building a world of inclusivity, gender equality, and equal opportunities. In the context of grief and care packages, celebrating women's resilience and strength during grief is paramount.

History of International Women's Day

International Women's Day was founded in the early 1900s. Around that time, women's oppression and inequality was pushing women past unrest and into action. Many campaigned for change, voicing their need for equality. In 1908, fifteen thousand women marched for equality, demanding better working conditions and voting rights.

The first National Woman's Day (NWD) was observed by the United States on February 28, 1909. An International Women's Day was proposed during the second International Conference of Working Women in 1910, led by Clara Zetkin and attended by over one hundred women. The idea was met with unanimous approval, and International Women's Day was recognized for the first time on March 19, 1911. Eventually the date shifted to March 8 when translated into the widely used Gregorian calendar. Women gained the right to vote in 1920, but the world was still far from equal for women. There continued and continue to be rallies, protests, and strikes for women's equality.

 

Why Do We Celebrate International Women’s Day?

By 2025, the world has changed significantly with inclusivity and equality for women, and society's mentality toward women has greatly improved since the 1900s. We have more women in power and politics, higher legislative equality, and great amounts of change that have placed women as role models, breadwinners, and frontrunners in every branch of society.

However, there is still much work to be done. Ingrained patriarchy looms over women's equality. Female workers are still not paid as much as their male counterparts, and women are not equal in numbers to men in politics, business, and education. Women are still oppressed, and sexism has not vanished.

International Women's Day raises awareness of these issues with recognition, lobbying, events, fundraising, and celebration. March 8 is a day to support women and honor their achievements, to promote learning about women's history, and to rally for gender equality and positive change for women.

Grief and emotional hardship uniquely impact women. Women in positions of leadership often have to deal with stigma around their ability to lead while grieving. Societal expectations of grief tend to pigeonhole women into one way of grieving, rather than acknowledging that everyone grieves differently. Finally, women may feel pressured to show their resilience and strength while grieving. International Women's Day is a holiday for breaking down stereotypes about women, including women's grief. 

How to Support the Women in Your Life 

International Women's Day calls for celebrating women. Here are a few ways you can support the women in your life:

1. Listen and validate. Acknowledge women's experiences, especially for women facing grief and hardship. Be open to listen, and create outlets for the women in your life to talk to you about their experiences. 
   

2. Educate yourself. Read books and articles about women's history and suffrage. Watch documentaries and interviews about positive change for women. Engage in conversations about women's rights and issues like sexism and gender inequality. It's important to be knowledgeable about current day problems for women in order to understand why it's so crucial that we take action for change.
   

3. Donate or volunteer. Support organizations that uplift and celebrate women. Donate or lend your time to groups and events that spread awareness about women's rights and help women in need. 
   

4. Spread awareness. Do research about women's rights and what needs to change in our current day society to better support women. Then, spread awareness about that change and take action toward it. Whether you write a blog, perform a song, or start a group, any action toward positive change and equality will help uplift women.
   

5. Support women-owned businesses. Encourage shopping from women-led brands like Good Grief. Work to promote shops and brands that are owned and led by women. 
   

6. Finally, celebrate the women in your life. You can express appreciation and love through kind words, gestures, or thoughtful gifts. Showing your support by teaching others about International Women's Day is also a great way to celebrate women.
   

International Women's Day is an extremely important day for women and women's history. As a society, it is critical that we work every day to break down gender stereotypes and promote women's safety and equality. 

Take action today to support the women in your life. Whether big or small, any move for change will help further gender equality in the world. You can start right now: sign up for our newsletter, share this woman-created post, or support a woman in your life with a Good Grief care package. 

About the author

Maiya Brock is an avid reader and knitter who loves curling up with a good book and a steaming mug of tea. Maiya writes in all genres, with a focus on screenwriting and poetry.

More resources:

https://www.internationalwomensday.com/

https://www.internationalwomensday.com/About

https://www.internationalwomensday.com/Activity/15586/The-history-of-IWD