The Beginning
International Women's Day (8 March) is an
occasion marked by women's groups around the world. International
Women's Day is the story of ordinary women as makers of
history; it is rooted in the centuries-old struggle of
women to participate in society on an equal footing with
men.
The history of IWD dates back to 1910 internationally
and, in Australia, to 1928. But socialist women in the
United States organised the first national Women's Day
in 1908 and helped to inspire the international event.
International Women's Day has its roots
in the labour movements of the late 19th and early 20th
century, when workers protested poor working conditions
and low wages in the textile industry, which employed
many women. International Women's Day was first celebrated
on March 8, 1911, and had "Universal Female Suffrage"
as its theme. The first IWD was held on March 19,
1911 in Germany, Austria, Denmark and some other European
countries. A million leaflets calling for action on the
right to vote were distributed throughout Germany before
IWD in 1911.
The Progress
Equal pay, including for servicewomen, became
a major issue during the war years from 1940-45. During
these years, the Women's Employment Board was set up with
powers to set wage scales for women entering male dominated
industries. IWD has experienced many ebbs and flows as
a day that helps to push women's issues onto the political
agenda.
On the 50th anniversary of IWD in 1960,
729 delegates from 73 countries, including Queenslander
Doris Webb from the Union of Australian Women, met in
a conference in Copenhagen. It adopted a general declaration
of support for the political, economic and social rights
of women. The first of the large IWD marches took place
in 1972. From then on, IWD marches generally took place
on the Saturday morning nearest to March 8.
In Sydney, the march was organised by an
ad hoc open-ended group of women's liberationists who
formed the March Action Campaign for IWD. The March
Action Campaign was taken up in some other states and
focussed on the following demands:
The Right to Work
Equal Pay
Equal opportunity for work and education
Free child care and pre-school activities
Free, safe contraceptives
Safe, legal abortion on request
Achievements
During International Women's Year in
1975, IWD was given official recognition by the
United Nations and was taken up by many governments
who had not previously known of its existence. IWD 1985,
to many, will simply mark the beginning of a new decade
in women's political activity.
The growing international women's movement,
which has been strengthened by four global United Nations
women's conferences, has helped make the commemoration
a rallying point for coordinated efforts to demand women's
rights and participation in the political and economic
process.
In the 87 years since, women have gained
the vote and much more - equality under the law and a
more prominent place in all aspects of society. International
Women's Day celebrates these achievements and looks ahead
to continued progress for women on all fronts. In 1998,
the theme is built around "The Evolution of Women's Rights:
A Lifelong Commitment."
Significance
The day has been variously seen as a
time for reassessment and reaffirmation of broadly based
goals; a day for the celebration of gains, or of women's
potential and creativity; and as a time for direct and
radical action. In contrast to this, the main thrust
of "official recognition" has been to use IWD to plaster
over the sex, race and class contradictions affecting
women's lives with platitudes.
International Women's Day is a time to reflect on progress
made, to call for change and to celebrate acts of courage
and determination by ordinary women who have played an
extraordinary role in the history of women's rights.
IWD survives as a point of reference
and some measure of progress in the longest struggle of
all - the liberation of women.
Compiled by: Stella Jebamani
