The year was 1908, and in the city of New York, nearly 15,000 women went on strike and marched down the streets demanding rights long overdue: Shorter hours. Better pay. The right to vote. It wasn't the beginning (the suffragettes had been fighting for equality since the mid-1800s). It certainly wasn't the end (there's still inequality to this day). Still, it was the spark by which International Women's Day was lit.

 

From there, the movement continued to grow. National Women's Day was celebrated the following year in the United States in honor of the 1908 strikes. The year after that, German socialist Clara Zetkin campaigned to turn the day into an international movement. And by 1917, Russia's International Women's Day demonstration (held on February 23, the equivalent of March 8 in the Russian calendar) was a force that would pave the way for socialism and the formation of the Soviet Union in 1922.

 

The lesson to be learned? Don't tell a woman she can't do something.

 

Finally, International Women's Day earned official recognition by the United Nations General Assembly in 1975 - and it's been celebrated by nearly 100 countries on March 8 ever since.

 

 

What it Means to Us

 

International Women's Day is a day set aside to recognize women's historical, cultural, and political achievements worldwide. This year's theme is: "Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow." And as a company where a majority of our staff is women, that's something we love to celebrate! Not to mention we're all about sustainability.

 

But today is not only a time to reflect and celebrate how far we've come but also acknowledge how far we still have yet to go. Depending on who you are, where you live, or your skin color, women still face inequality and discrimination in many forms. Women still face many obstacles: Exploitation, forced marriages, indentured servitude, inequal pay, and lack of leadership roles. The fight is far from over.

 

 

How You Can Show Your Support

 

There are many impactful ways to actively support International Women's Day, both on a large scale and closer to home. (We might also add: None of these need to be limited to March 8. These are great ideas no matter the time of year!) Here are some of our favorites:

 

As consumers, we speak loudest with our wallets. Be intentional with your dollars and support women-owned businesses. An easy way to locate them is through Yelp; they have an identifying marker on any company known to be woman-owned.

 

Consume art by women. Watch movies, read books, or listen to music created by the hands of women.

 

Join the Big Sisters Mentor Program. What better way to lift up the future leaders of tomorrow than by helping a young girl discover her potential!

 

Support anti-trafficking organizations. Approximately 4 million people are trafficked each year globally, and 99% of those victims are women and girls. Organizations like Project Rescue and Dressember are committed to ending modern-day slavery and human exploitation.

 

Give up an hour of pay. Through Your Hour Her Power foundation's Dress for Success program, when you give the equivalent of one hour of your pay, you give a woman access to programs, services, and tools that will help her achieve economic advancement.

 

Coco Chanel once said, "A girl should be two things: who and what she wants." And we couldn't agree more. Let us keep fighting the good fight until equality isn't just something we strive for, but by which the standard is set.

 

Happy International Women's Day from all of us at ELIMS.