Women's Day 2022: Context, Significance, and Theme

By: WE Staff | Tuesday, 8 March 2022

On March 8, International Women's Day is commemorated to honour women's social, economic, cultural, and political achievements. The day also serves as a rallying point for women's equality.

International Women's Day has been observed for almost a century, with over a million people attending the first meeting in 1911. Today, International Women's Day is celebrated by all women worldwide.

History

International Women's Day (IWD) has been commemorated since the early 1900s, when the industrialised world was undergoing rapid development and upheaval, with explosive population growth and the advent of radical ideologies.

Women were becoming increasingly vocal and involved in lobbying for change as a result of their oppression and injustice. In 1908, 15,000 women marched through New York City, demanding shorter working hours, higher pay, and the opportunity to vote.

The inaugural National Woman's Day (NWD) was marked across the United States on February 28 in accordance with a declaration by the Socialist Party of America, marking the commencement of the movement. Until 1913, women continued to commemorate NWD on the final Sunday of February.

Russian women celebrated their inaugural International Women's Day on February 23, the last Sunday in February, on the eve of World War I, campaigning for peace.

Following talks, it was decided that International Women's Day would be observed yearly on March 8, which corresponded to February 23 in the widely used Gregorian calendar, and this date has been the global date for International Women's Day ever since.

Significance

March 8 is also a significant date for the following:

Commemorate women's accomplishments

Raise awareness on the equality of women

Agitate for gender parity to be achieved sooner rather than later

Organize a fundraiser for a female-focused charity

Theme

"Gender Equality Today for a Sustainable Tomorrow" is the theme of International Women's Day 2022.

"The year 2022 is pivotal for achieving gender equality in the context of climate change and environmental and disaster risk reduction, which are some of the greatest global challenges of the twenty-first century. Without gender equality today, a sustainable future, and an equal future remains beyond our reach.," UN Women's website says.

"This year’s IWD observance is in recognition and celebration of the women and girls who are leading the charge on climate change adaptation and response, and to honour their leadership and contribution towards a sustainable future," it added.

#BreakTheBias is the campaign theme for International Women's Day 2022. Bias, whether intentional or unconscious, makes it difficult for women to advance. It's not enough to be aware that bias exists. To level the playing field, action is required.