On International Women’s DaY... On International Women’s DaY...

WHY MARCH 8?

When putting together this issue of Ms. Magnet, the editors wanted to choose a publication date that signified something bigger than them, a date that honors women globally. Every year, March 8 observes International Women’s Day, a celebration of women in all spheres of progress, but also a reminder of the long road to gender parity. Bringing back Ms. Magnet on such a day is Girl Up’s way of honoring all of us, from the women working tirelessly to put make the magazine happen to the women waiting for their voices to be heard.

A Brief History Of Iwd

International Women’s Day comes from a cloudy background of conflicting timelines. However, the first official National Women’s Day was in New York City on February 28, 1909. It was here that both socialist and suffragist agendas were celebrated together. This idea soon gained traction in European nations, with the first International Women’s Day being held on March 19, 1911. More than 1 million people attended rallies worldwide. As most social progressivism slowed during the outbreak of World War I, the push for gender equity never stalled Most notably, Russian feminist Alexandra Kollantai led a massive demonstration beginning on March 8, 1917 (February 23 in the Russian Gregorian Calendar), linked to the Russian Revolution. After taking power, Vladimir Lenin recognized Woman’s Day as a national Soviet holiday in honor of Kollantai’s effort. Socialists in Spain and China followed suit, and until the mid-1970s, Women’s Day was associated solely with socialist nations. In 1975, the United Nations announced International Women’s Day to be on March 8, with over 100 countries celebrating by 2014.

TODAY'S WORLD

As we navigate life in the Digital Age, we must remember the necessity for individualism in an ever-increasingly globalized world. International Women’s Day is honored in a myriad of ways, some countries adhering strictly to its founding political values, and others, like Argentina, commercializing it. We have seen different cultures take the idea of IWD and mold it to celebrate their own definitions of womanhood. Today is reserved for recognizing what womanhood means to us as individuals and to our communities. What does it mean to be a woman, to know a woman? Every year, March 8 reminds us to pay close attention to the women at work in every avenue of our lives. How can we revere the women who came before us, grow with the women beside us, and work for the women who will succeed us? Not just today, but every day exists for us to welcome these questions with open arms and carry on in the work that is before us.

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