Happy International Women's Day, and all you women out there ROCK! International Women's Day(IWD), which is celebrated today and on March 8th every year as a social and political event to recognize the achievements of women across all aspects of society. It is also a time to reflect on progress made and to celebrate acts of courage and determination by ordinary women who have played an extraordinary role in the history of their communities, countries, and the world.
The initiative for IWD began in 1908 as part of the labor movement in New York City. It was proposed by the Socialist Party of America at an International Conference of Working Women in Copenhagen. In 1910, IWD was adopted by the International Socialist Women’s Conference held in Copenhagen. Since then, it has become a global celebration with many countries, including China, Russia, the United States, Italy, Germany, France, Japan, and dozens more, celebrating IWD annually.
It is important to remember that while progress has been made toward gender equality over the years since IWD began in 1909, there is still much work to be done. According to statistics reported by UN Women, women are still paid less than men for similar work around the globe; they occupy only 36% of senior roles, and discrimination against women remains a major issue for many countries worldwide.
In recent years IWD has become an opportunity for individuals and companies alike to recognize the vital contribution that female employees make within organizations - from inspiring girls into technology or science-related fields to providing mentorship or helping close gender gaps throughout various industries. Many companies now host internal events on IWD for female employees, such as celebratory lunches or career development workshops aiming to empower women both within their own company walls and society at large.
In addition to celebrating female achievement throughout various industries on International Women’s Day, many campaigns are being launched worldwide throughout the year with messages such as ‘#femalesfirst’ or ‘#pledgeforparity’, which aim to raise awareness about gender issues globally while inspiring individuals everywhere take action towards creating an equal world for all genders.
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