For more than a century, people around the world mark March 08 as the International Women’s Day. Is there a men’s day and why exactly is March 08^th proclaimed a special day for women?

The International Women’s Day resulted from the labour movement, and the United Nations recognised it as an annual event. It all started in 1908, when 15,000 women walked in New York City, demanding shorter working hours, better wages and the right to vote. A year later, the Socialist Party of America established the first National Women’s Day.

The idea for the international holiday came from a woman named Clara Zetkin, who suggested it at the International Women’s Conference in Copenhagen in 1910. Her original idea did not refer to a fixed date. The conference was attended by 100 women from 17 countries and they unanimously accepted the proposal.

Internationally, this day was marked for the first time in 1911, in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland. Everything became official when the United Nations started celebrating it. The International Women’s Day’s turned into an occasion for celebrating women’s social, political and economic achievements.

Is there the International Men’s Day?

Yes, there is, November 19.  It was first celebrated in the 1990s and it not recognised by the UN. People mark it in more than 80 countries, including the UK.

How is the Women’s Day celebrated this year, at a peak of the pandemic?

The International Women’s Day is a national holiday in many countries, including Russia, where flower sales double during those three to four days around March 08.

In China, many women get a half a day off from work on that day, as recommended by the National Council, although many employers do not practice it.

In Italy, Festa della Donna is celebrated by giving mimosa buds as a present.

The origin of this tradition is not clear, but it is believed that it started in Rome after World War II.

In America, March is the Women’s History Month.

A presidential announcement, issued every year, celebrates achievements of American women.

This year, it will be somewhat different due to the coronavirus pandemic and several virtual events are expected to be held worldwide.

What is the topic of the Women’s Day 2021?

This year’s campaign for the International Women’s Day is titled #ChooseToChallenge, with the idea that a challenged world is an alert world and that, individually, we are all responsible for our own thoughts and actions.

“We can all choose to challenge and call out gender bias and inequality,” states the campaign.

“We can all choose to seek out and celebrate women’s achievements. Collectively, we can all help create an inclusive world.”

People are asked to ‘raise their hand high to show they are in and that they commit choose to challenge and call out inequality’.

Source: BBC na srpskom