Sat Mar 08 06:10:00 UTC 2025: ## International Women’s Day: A History Rooted in Labor Activism

**New Delhi, March 8, 2025** – While International Women’s Day is now marked globally with celebrations of women’s equality and empowerment, its origins lie in the struggles of working-class women in the early 20th century. Far from a mere symbolic holiday, March 8th commemorates a history of activism and labor movements, often overlooked in modern celebrations.

The day’s roots trace back to the Industrial Revolution, with women garment workers in New York City leading protests for better wages and working conditions in 1909. This pivotal event, later recognized by Russian revolutionary Alexandra Kollontai as the first Women’s Day, sparked a wave of similar demonstrations across the United States demanding suffrage and political rights.

Inspired by American women, the Second International Congress of Socialist Women declared March 19th, 1911, as the first International Women’s Day. Subsequently, the date shifted to March 8th, following the Georgian calendar.

The early 20th century saw women garment workers facing exploitative conditions: 75-hour workweeks, paltry wages, and even the requirement to supply their own materials. Strikes, such as the 1909 New York Shirtwaist Strike (“Uprising of the 20,000”) and the 1910 Chicago garment workers’ strike, exemplified their fight for better lives. The powerful slogan “Bread and Roses,” representing both economic improvement and human dignity, captured the spirit of this movement.

The significance of International Women’s Day is further underscored by its role in the 1917 Russian Revolution. A Women’s Day march in Petrograd, demanding an end to World War I and improved conditions, became a catalyst for the uprising. Vladimir Lenin later declared March 8th a national holiday in recognition of women’s contributions to the revolution.

Today, as world leaders and corporations issue celebratory messages, it’s crucial to remember the hard-fought history behind International Women’s Day and the ongoing struggle for gender equality. The day’s true meaning lies in honoring the legacy of working women who fought for better lives, securing the rights and freedoms enjoyed by women today.

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