Sunday 8 March 2009

International Women's Day, March, 8th.

 
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In many countries women are still discriminated against. Girls get less or no schooling at all. They are often underfed and have to work harder than the boys. Half of the world population consists of women and girls. So why is it that they are treated like third rate citizens?


International Women's Day has been observed since in the early 1900's, a time of great expansion and turbulence in the industrialized world that saw booming population growth and the rise of radical ideologies.

1908
Great unrest and critical debate was occurring amongst women. Women's oppression and inequality was spurring women to become more vocal and active in campaigning for change. Then in 1908, 15,000 women marched through New York City demanding shorter hours, better pay and voting rights.

1909
In accordance with a declaration by the Socialist Party of America, the first National Woman's Day (NWD) was observed across the United States on 28 February. Women continued to celebrate NWD on the last Sunday of February until 1913.

1910
n 1910 a second International Conference of Working Women was held in Copenhagen. A woman named a Clara Zetkin (Leader of the 'Women's Office' for the Social Democratic Party in Germany) tabled the idea of an International Women's Day. She proposed that every year in every country there should be a celebration on the same day - a Women's Day - to press for their demands. The conference of over 100 women from 17 countries, representing unions, socialist parties, working women's clubs, and including the first three women elected to the Finnish parliament, greeted Zetkin's suggestion with unanimous approval and thus International Women's Day was the result.
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18 comments:

Constantinos said...

In Greece women feel like going out on March 8 with their girlfriends, no husbands or boyfriends. They eat, drink and dance till the early morning hours. In my country women are treated as equal to men. They're in politics, they're fire fighters, they're everywhere. But I can't understand why they need to celebrate so much on March 8 with just girlfriends! I guess I'll never understand women!

Renie Burghardt said...

Thank you for sharing the history of International Women's Day. It is really shameful that in many countries women are still discriminated against to this day, and it is good to learn that there are women who are working towards eliminating this.

Happy International Women's Day, Will!

Hugs,

Renie

Carol Murdock said...

Wil......I love the flower!
I'll never understand why part of the world treats women as third class citizens but like other forms of bigotry, there are those working to erase it! Thanks for the post!
xoxo,
Carol

penny said...

Thank you Wil, You speek for those who can't speek for themselves. It is wonderful to have a reminder like "International Women's Day"

Vicki Lane said...

What a beautiful blog! My friend Carol of Writer's Porch pointed me this way and I know I'll be back for more virtual travel.

There are so many women in dreadful circumstances -- treated like slaves or less than human. Change comes slowly but it's on the way -- think of those brave girls in Afghanistan who returned to school after being attacked by acid-throwing zealots.

Thank you for your post . . . and for sharing all these beautiful pictures!

Anonymous said...

Prachtig die foto.

Groetjes

Reader Wil said...

Constantinos: Thanks for your comment.Women celebrate IWD because though your country and mine might treat men and women as equal partners, there are many women who are considered to be inferior to men. In many African and Asian countries women don't get equal schooling, sometimes no education at all. The Taliban in Afghanistan forbids girls to go to school they, don't get medical help, they are not allowed to work. This is so stupid for women are half of the population of the world, they have the same talents, brains and potential powers as men. Even in my country we have to deal with religious groups who forbid women to vote, to work outside the house, to study more than only elementary education. In Africa women work hard they have to look after their husband and children, to walk miles to fetch water, to walk miles to go to market and sell products of their fields. We celebrate IWD because we are solidair with women all over the world. It's not so long ago, that it was discussed if women had souls.In the women's concentration camp we noticed th at it was normal for soldiers to beat women. And we felt it ourselves. One of our women didn't take it lying down and beat the soldier back.That was bad for her. The soldier was surprised and not used to that. Greece and many European countries are better but the fact that you say:" I don't understand women, because they have equal rights".. means that you have never realised, that this all happened because women have fought for it.

Anonymous said...

Happy International Women's Day, Wil. And thank you for all the kind comments you made on m Saturday Ramble post!

Unknown said...

Wow, thanks for the big big info on Women's Day! I'd be posting mine soon.

This is just great.

Unknown said...

My women's day post is now up. Thanks for the reminder.

Happy Women's Week to you too...

VALKYRIEN said...

Thank you Reader Wil! And you got the history in order too!

Many places in the world treats women as a third class citizens. A lot of work still needs to be done. I am greatful I live in a corner of the world where I can be my own person, and still be a woman and proud of it!

Marutham said...

A beautiful post on this special day!
Greetings Madame.. :)

It is an un deniable fact that there is discrimination between female child and male child even today in many parts of the country.

While this is happening in one side, the other sad part is that there are women who exploit the power and the freedom and compltely bring Disgrace for the entire womenhood. I just hope women lead a balanced life & do thier best for the society and themself. There are great women who are inspirational & use the power in the right sense.


Happy Womens day!
Keep rocking..

Cheers!
Marutham

Mariamellie said...

Wow my dear Wil! what a nice writing! for me, I really have to thank my mother and my grandmother, and there is no other concrete way other than pursuing good education and then transfer it to others. We are as the lucky one has the duty to empower other women who are less 'lucky' than us. We Indonesians will celebrate it again next month on the 21st of April of Kartini's Day, as she is the pioneer for Indonesian women to strive for good education. For you my dear Wil, Happy Women Day! Hugs and kisses. Warmest greetings from Indonesia!

Miss_Yves said...

Congratulations for your commited post.
There is much to do to improve the women's lives in many countries...and , of course, one day is not enough !
Women in democratic countries must help girls and women who are treated like slaves .

Thanks for your kind words on my blog .
Yes, that you read is a game (played on HPY, Cergie and Chandler's blogs), and I exhibited the self portrait of a pen friend , a talented mail artist!
I did my own self portrait a fortnight ago ;(I don't remember the link)I agree with you: it's difficult to paint oneself, so I only featured tiny details .

Miss_Yves said...

Excusez-moi d'avoir répété mon message !(I'm not very brilliant at computers , I prefer poetry or artcrafts (lol)
Et parfois je publie un "post" sur mon blog, puis je le corrige , le complète, aussi, il n'apparaît pas . C'est ce que je viens de faire (préparation ABC Wednesday : donc ne le cherchez pas!)Il apparaîtra plus tard , une fois mis au point .

Thérèse said...

Interesting post. I discovered it through Miss Yves...
Women's rights should be mentioned in all history books. This goes of course through Education which seems to disappear even in developped countries...

Dina said...

Thanks for this, Wil. We have come a long way, but the world has a long way to go still.

pictureeachday said...

A great post, Wil! We women in our countries are very lucky, and we have many strong, determined women from the past to thank for it. Thank you for the history, and the reminder that women in many other countries aren't so lucky. Happy belated Women's Day to you!