By: Surjit Singh Flora
International Women’s Day—what does it mean to you?
Four ladies play important roles in everyone’s life.
Mother is the person who gave you birth.
One who was born with you, Sister
One who was born for you, your life mate
One born from you, “Daughter
Life has no meaning without them.
They have an impact on our lives in some way.
Women’s Day reminds us why we must appreciate women and what they contribute to our lives and the planet.
If we offer women enough assistance, they can do more than men. Every woman has the ability to alter the world.
So, on March 8, “International Women’s Day,” let us raise our voices in support of women’s rights. But how and why did it start? Few people know. Actually, Women’s Day is the product of a labour movement. If we look at history, it started in the year 1908 when 15 thousand women marched in New York City and demanded to reduce working hours. Along with this, one of their demands was to give them the right to vote along with an increase in salary. Exactly one year after this, the “Socialist Party” of America declared this day “National Women’s Day”. In 1910, Clara Zetkin of the German Social Democratic Party suggested that the day be celebrated globally during an ‘international conference’ of working women in Copenhagen. Around 100 women from 17 countries were present at that time, and they fully supported the resolution.
International Women’s Day was first celebrated in 1911 in Austria, Denmark, Germany, and Switzerland. Earlier, it was known as ‘International Working Women’s Day’. On March 25, 1911, a fire broke out in the Triangle Garment Factory in New York, and more than 140 female workers burned to death due to a lack of safety in the factory. Because the managers kept all the doors closed during the work, the women could not get out when the fire broke out. The demand for higher wage laws against such working conditions of the workers now became the main issue of the women’s movement. With this, the revolt among women about their working conditions intensified, and the demand for the right to vote for women also rose rapidly.
During World War II in 1917, Russian women demanded “Bread and Peace” (food and peace). At that time, the ‘Julian calendar’ was used in Russia, according to which the day of the strike was February 23, but in the Gregorian calendar it was March 8. In 1975, the United Nations declared March 8 as “International Women’s Day”. After that, this day started to be celebrated all over the world.
In many countries, this day is declared a national holiday. In Russia and many other countries, the price of flowers increases on this day as women and men give flowers to each other. Most offices in China have a half-day off. In the US, the entire month of March is celebrated as “Women’s History Month”.
Despite these positive developments, the condition of women has not improved. She has to endure slavery due to anti-woman mentality, patriarchal power, and beatings in society. Even today, they are subjected to physical and mental abuse. She is surrounded by problems like domestic violence, rape, kidnapping, acid attacks, dowry, and infanticide. Of course, nature has blessed women with the power to create and nurture life. But the idea of suppressing women always prevails in society. There is no doubt that many pro-women laws have come into existence, but those laws have also remained mere lip service. Even with the passing of the law to ‘hang rapists’, crimes against women have increased dramatically. Delay in punishing criminals is also the main reason for this. The statistics of gender inequality, domestic violence, and sexual exploitation in our society are alarming. There is concern and thought about the issue of the safety of girls in the country.
In fact, women are not only slaves to “male society’ (as is often mistaken) but also slaves to the capitalist system. This society based on exploitation can never give equality to women. This issue is not about the freedom of a woman alone, but about the freedom of a human being. So, it is very important to change this arrangement.
Every day, we commemorate Women’s Day in one way or another. We support and assist our mother, wife, and sisters in their everyday endeavors. This is the first step towards their advancement. If this support is given to friends and coworkers as well, there will be no limit to the advancement of women, I guarantee you.
I say it again, “Let’s make our women proud by helping them reach their goals and encouraging them to do so. “Let them proclaim with pride that behind every successful woman is a man. (The male might be a parent, brother, spouse, son, friend, teacher, or mentor.)
The original meaning of March 8 as a celebration of women’s struggles has been changed over time. Which is being restricted only to giving gifts and eating and drinking. But this time, March 8 is playing its historic role, when women across the country are united and taking to the streets for their rights, like the women of New York. History is repeating itself. Many revolutionary wishes to all on ‘International Women’s Day’.