INTERNATIONAL Women’s Day, celebrated annually on March 8, has made significant strides in history to reach its global prominence. The day honours the achievements of women worldwide and advocates for gender equality. With its rich historical background, International Women’s Day holds great significance, with commemorations held globally under specific themes that highlight the essence of the celebration.

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Academic researcher Mallory Moench explored the history of this global observance and uncovered surprising facts, which she published in an academic journal titled 10 Surprising Facts about Women’s History Month. From these, we highlight four fascinating facts that shed light on the movement and its origins.

International Women’s Day was first recognised in Europe

Many reports trace the origins of a holiday honouring women to New York City in 1909, to the commemoration of a garment workers’ strike.

In 1910, German activist Clara Zetkin suggested to the International Conference of Working Women in Copenhagen the creation of an international holiday to honour women. Europeans recognised International Women’s Day in 1911, although the US did not follow suit.

International Women’s Day date was chosen because of the Russian revolution 

The date of March 8 became significant in 1917, when women in the Russian capital of Petrograd protested and went on strike, demanding food and the end of the empire. A week later, the Tsar abdicated. Zetkin reportedly suggested in 1921 that March 8 become International Women’s Day as a result.

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Women’s History Month started as a local week 

Women’s History Month began as a local week-long celebration in Santa Rosa, California in 1978, according to the online National Women’s History Museum. The Education Task Force of the Sonoma County Commission on the Status of Women planned the week and timed it with International Women’s Day.

Local advocates then formed the National Women’s History Project, now the National Women’s History Alliance, to share women’s achievements. One of the group’s members, Molly Murphy MacGregor, participated in The Women’s History Institute at Sarah Lawrence College in New York, where others were inspired to start their own week celebrations, according to the group’s website. By 1986, 14 States had already declared March as Women’s History Month.

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It took years for Women’s History Month to be federally recognised

In 1980, the National Women’s History Project led a coalition of women’s groups and successfully lobbied President Jimmy Carter to issue a proclamation recognising National Women’s History Week, National Geographic reported. It took until 1987 for Congress to pass a law designating March as Women’s History Month.

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