Jakarta, Sketsa.id – Every March 8, the world observes International Women’s Day as a form of appreciation for women’s struggles in achieving gender equality, reproductive rights, and the elimination of violence. However, behind this global celebration lies a long history rooted in labor movements more than a century ago. This commemoration is not merely symbolic but serves as a reminder of women’s resistance against injustice during the early industrial era of the 20th century.

According to historical records from the United Nations, the idea of International Women’s Day emerged amid economic expansion and industrialization that sparked protests by women workers in North America and Europe. In 1908, approximately 15,000 women marched through New York City demanding shorter working hours, better pay, and voting rights. This action led to the first National Women’s Day observed across the United States on February 28, 1909, initiated by the Socialist Party of America at the suggestion of activist Theresa Malkiel.

The international movement began a year later. In 1910, Clara Zetkin, leader of the Women’s Office for the Social Democratic Party in Germany, proposed the establishment of an International Women’s Day during the International Conference of Working Women in Copenhagen, Denmark. The proposal received unanimous approval from more than 100 women delegates representing 17 countries. The goal was simple: to unite women’s struggles globally without national boundaries.

The first official observance took place in 1911 in Austria, Denmark, Germany, and Switzerland, with more than one million people participating. The date of March 8 was permanently established following a massive strike by women workers in Petrograd (now St. Petersburg), Russia, on March 8, 1917 (according to the Gregorian calendar). This action triggered the Russian Revolution, which ultimately led to the abdication of Tsar Nicholas II. Since then, March 8 became a symbol of women’s resistance and was declared a national holiday in Soviet Russia in 1917.

The United Nations officially recognized International Women’s Day in 1975, during International Women’s Year. Beginning in 1996, the UN established annual themes, such as “Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress” for 2024, emphasizing investment in women to accelerate progress toward equality. In Indonesia, the observance is marked through seminars, solidarity actions, and anti-violence campaigns, with data from the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection showing a 20 percent annual increase in public participation.

The symbolic colors of Women’s Day—purple representing justice and dignity, green symbolizing hope, and white signifying purity—originated from the Women’s Social and Political Union in Britain in 1908. Today, this observance remains relevant, as UN data indicates that full gender equality will take another 136 years to achieve without accelerated efforts.

Amid global challenges such as pandemics and conflicts, International Women’s Day invites us to reflect: have we contributed to creating a more just world for women? Let us celebrate through meaningful action, not merely words. (cc)