Happy International Women’s Day! March 8 is a global celebration of women’s social, economic, and political achievements throughout the world and a day to remind us to push for full women’s equality everywhere.
Here are five things you should know about celebrating today:
International Women’s Day Has Socialist Roots
The Socialist Party Of America organized a women’s day in 1909, during a time of great civil unrest. Subsequently, the International Socialist Women’s Conference pushed for an annual Women’s Day. In 1917, women in Russia became eligible to vote and March 8 became a national holiday, which was the precursor to International Women’s Day. The holiday was not commonly celebrated in the United States until it was officially recognized by the United Nations in 1975.
This Year’s Theme Is #BalanceForBetter
This year’s theme is #BalanceForBetter. #BalanceForBetter is a call for more gender parity. “The race is on for the gender-balanced boardroom, a gender-balanced government, gender-balanced media coverage, a gender-balance of employees, more gender-balance in wealth, gender-balanced sports coverage,” the website explains. “Gender balance is essential for economies and communities to thrive.”
Purple Is the Official International Women’s Day Color
If you’re celebrating, comb your closet for your finest purple. Purple is the official color of the event and the international color symbolizing women.
Women Aren’t Paid Equally
More than 50 years after we passed the Equal Pay Act, women still aren’t paid equally. According to the Institute for Women’s Policy Research, Black women in the United States make about 63 cents for every dollar earned by a man. White women make 79 cents for every dollar earned by a man. Latinas earn 54 cents for every dollar earned by a man. And Native American women make 57 cents per dollar earned by a man.
Let the rage that you still probably make less than your most comparable male coworker — and the celebration that despite this, women are strong as hell — carry you through International Women’s Day.
Women are strong, beautiful, invincible, and badass.
Check out GO’s 100 Women We Love: Class Of 2018 for 100 amazing queer women.
