International Women’s Day represents a struggle that has lasted for over a century. Every March 8, the world remembers the sacrifices of thousands of working women who, in times of extreme inequality, raised their voices to demand basic rights. From the first labor movements to the advances in gender equality in the 21st century, this commemoration has evolved to encompass the diverse demands of women worldwide.
The first protests by female workers emerged in the 19th century, amid industrialization and labor exploitation. A key event took place in New York in 1875, when hundreds of textile workers took to the streets to denounce low wages and the wage gap between men and women, with men earning more than twice as much for the same work. The response was brutal: 120 women were killed at the hands of police repression.
Years later, two tragedies shaped the fight for women’s labor rights. In 1908, a fire at the Cotton factory in New York took the lives of at least 130 striking workers. It was no accident—the factory owner, angered by the protest, ordered the building’s doors to be locked to force them to give up their strike.
Another tragedy occurred in 1911 when a fire devastated the Triangle Shirtwaist factory, killing 149 people, most of them women. Working conditions were inhumane, and out of fear of theft, the owners kept the doors locked. This decision turned into a death trap: on March 25, 1911, at 4:45 p.m., a fire broke out, causing the worst disaster in the textile industry’s history.
Although the fight for women’s rights had been ongoing for decades, it was in the 20th century that this commemoration gained global recognition. In 1910, during the Second International Socialist Women’s Conference, the idea of an International Women’s Day was proposed, though no specific date was set. A year later, on March 19, 1911, countries such as Germany, Austria, Denmark, and Switzerland marked the first International Working Women’s Day with massive demonstrations.
In 1917, during World War I, Russian women went on strike on February 23 (according to the Julian calendar), a protest that led to the abdication of the tsar and the granting of women’s right to vote. Over time, more countries began to observe the date, and in 1975, the United Nations General Assembly officially recognized March 8 as International Women’s Day.
Two years later, in 1977, the UN urged member states to incorporate this observance into their national traditions to promote women’s rights and their participation in society.
Despite significant progress, gender-based violence remains a pressing issue. The feminist movement has brought attention to this crisis and has fueled initiatives such as the International Women’s Strike, which began in 2017 across more than 50 countries.
According to the UN: “Empowering the next generation is at the core of this idea, as young women and adolescent girls will be the key drivers of lasting change in the future.”
March 8 is not a celebration but a reminder of the historical debt owed to women. From the fight for fair working conditions to the demand for policies against gender-based violence, this date remains a call to action.
