International Women’s Day is more than just a Snapchat filter
Who run the world?
You probably all saw the snapchat stories and filters, as well as the Google Doodle search engine honoring International Women’s Day yesterday. You may or may not have thought to yourself, oh it’s just another one of those holidays that no one really celebrates. Well, think again.
International Women’s Day is not only a global day that celebrates the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women, but it is also a day that represents a call for advancing gender equality.
The first National Women’s Day was held on Feb. 28 , 1909, during the progressive era. The progressive era was a time when people were fighting to eliminate corruption in the government. Some of the main events that happened were the prohibition, and also the start of the american women’s suffrage movement. In 1910, National Women’s Day was changed to International Women’s Day, and in 1913 the holiday was switched to March 8.
IWD is celebrated as an official holiday in many countries including Afghanistan, Armenia, Cambodia, China (for women only), Cuba, Kazakhstan, Madagascar (for women only), Mongolia, Montenegro, Nepal (for women only), Russia, Uganda, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam.
In some countries it’s a tradition for men honor their mothers, wives, and girlfriends with flowers and small gifts on this day, and in other countries it’s celebrated like Mother’s Day- where children give small gifts to their mothers and grandmothers.
However, no matter what kind of traditions are practiced worldwide, International Women’s Day still represents a time for global celebration, reflection, and action.
Although there have been many advancements made, we have not yet reached true equality. Globally, men’s education and social standing are higher regarded and easier to come upon than that of women. This is easily seen in the cases of women not being paid equally compared to men, as well as the unequal representation of women in business and politics.
Given this, let’s take a moment to celebrate the fact that women are able to receive a higher education, they can work and have a family, there are female astronauts and prime ministers, and overall, women have REAL choices.