In New York in 1908 a group of women garment makers gathered to demonstrate for better working conditions. For too long they'd worked in atrocious conditions, for half the wage earned by men, dieing early due to poor health, with no right to vote. A group of women rallied. This experiment was the foundation of the women’s movement. None of the women who attended and spoke up would have imagined the impact their actions created.
By 1910 an international conference of women resolved one day a year should be earmarked for highlighting the demands of women. March 8 was deemed International Women's Day (IWD) around the world could unite, to fight for equality.
In England women met and marched. The Suffragettes adopted the colours of Green, White and Violet to symbolise their slogan "Give Women the Vote" … these colours have remained the colours of IWD.
In Sydney, IWD was first celebrated in 1928. Women rallied for equal pay for equal work, eight-hour working days for shop workers, no piece-work, a basic wage for the unemployed and paid annual leave. Gatherings have been organised in Australia every year since.
This year there are 611 events listed in 52 countries …
In Sydney today there was the rally in Hyde Park
Events were held Australia wide.
IWD is about recalling the long fought battles to build a just, fair, diverse, tolerant, and equal society for all.
International Women’s Day celebrates what women have done, are doing and will continue to do.
So if you’ve an experiment smouldering in the back of your mind, take heed, art, act, do it, who knows what it could lead to and what a difference your actions could make in the future!
Happy International Women's Day!
8 Comments:
Sounds like a great place to pick up chicks. LOL
this was so interesting Red! Happy Iwd to you too
(btw.. I LOVED your addition to my story! thx)
We've come a long way......and still have a long way to go for women to experience equality and mutual respect in many parts of this world.
May we never take for granted the struggles and victories women before us won....
It's hard to believe that it has been less than 100 years in many countries that women have had the right to vote!
i know i live in a box... but i have never heard of this till this year.. hmmmmm....
personally i wonder what grand things we accomplished as the only benefit equality has ever provided me with is the opportunity to support myself!!!!!
Amazing, isn't it? I still ponder the slowness of our evolution in the social sense. Great post!
This is a post after my heart. I work for down trodden women in my spare time.
Refluxing Life
happy belated Women's Day to you Redness, everyday should be one, dont you think?
excellent post... i can remember when i was livin in oz women were finally allowed in the public bars... yr last comment/paragraph spoke volumes... happy woman's day to you 2...
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