March 8 International Women’s Day

March 8 is celebrated as International Women’s Day. On this day, various events such as conferences, demonstrations, and entertainment are organized by and/or for women. Solidarity among women and women’s expectations from society are highlighted.

The idea of having a day dedicated to women was first proposed and accepted at the International Socialist Women’s Conference held in Copenhagen on August 26–27, 1910.

The date March 8 was chosen by the 3rd International Women’s Conference held in Moscow in 1921.

The United Nations General Assembly approved the celebration of March 8 as International Women’s Day in 1977.

Interesting Facts

According to a study by the United Nations;

Women perform 66% of the world’s work.
In contrast, women own only 10% of the world’s total income.
They own just 1% of the world’s wealth.
Men own 90% of the world’s total income and 99% of the total wealth.

Figures from Turkey

In cities, 18% of married women and in villages 76% are beaten by their spouses.
57.7% of women face violence on the first day of their marriage.
90% of domestic crimes are committed against women.

“Women’s Day” from Past to Present

International Women’s Day first came to the fore in the 1800s when women workers striking for better working conditions at a textile factory were locked inside the factory, and a fire broke out, killing 129 women workers by burning.

Finally, on March 8, 1908, they went on strike as a last resort to obtain their rights. The bosses cruelly intervened in this strike and locked the striking women inside the factory building.

Very few of the women workers in the factory managed to escape the fire. 129 women workers burned to death.