It is not March 8, but on February 23, 1909: the true story of women’s day

Women’s day was not born on March 8, but on February 23, 1909, as a symbol of struggle for women’s rights. Discover the true story behind this anniversary.

The International Women’s Day It is celebrated every year, but few know its true origin. This anniversary was not born as a party, but as an opportunity for claim of women’s rights. The first event was held the February 23, 1909when a day dedicated to the struggle of women was organized in the United States for the vote, wage equality and dignified working conditions.

In the following years, the celebration spread all over the world, with particular importance in Russia in 1917where women protests marked a historical turning point. However, today March 8 is often reduced to a commercial party, losing its true meaning. To understand the importance of this date, it is essential to rediscover the value of women’s battles And the sacrifice of those who fought for the rights that we take for granted today.

Women’s day: the origins and the false myth of the fire

When we talk about 8 March, many people mistakenly connect it to a tragic Fire in a New York factorywhere it is said that hundreds of workers lost their lives. Although such an event really happened, the 25 Marzo 1911 And it is not the cause of the birth of women’s day.

In reality, already in 1907 there was actively discussed women’s rights. During the VII Congress of the Socialist Internationalheld in Stuttgart, the question of the universal suffrage and women’s working conditions. Hence a debate that led to the proclamation of the First day of women on February 23, 1909 in the United States, on the initiative of American Socialist Party. This event marked a fundamental step for the birth of a women’s collective consciousness.

In the following years, the movement spread throughout Europe, finding support between socialist women and workers who fought for Equi wages and sustainable times. The path was long and difficult, but laid the foundations for the celebration we know today.

The Russian Revolution and the choice of 8 March

If the first real reference to Women’s day dates back to 1909why is it celebrated today on March 8? The answer is located in a crucial historical event: the Russian revolution of 1917.

L’March 8 of that yearaccording to the Gregorian calendar, the women of St. Petersburg took to the square to protest against war and unsustainable living conditions. Their mobilization was thus decisive as to help to trigger the February revolutionaccording to the Giuliano calendar then in force in Russia.

In the 1921to commemorate this event, the Second international conference of communist women officially established that March 8 would be the International Women’s Daythe date that has since continued to be remembered all over the world.

The original meaning and historical battles

Today the8 Marzo is often reduced to a commercial party, with dinners, gifts and showsbut his true value It is quite different. Women’s day exists thanks to Historical battles which led to fundamental conquests. Here are some of the rights obtained thanks to the struggle of women:

• Right to vote: conquered in many countries between the end of the nineteenth and mid -twentieth centuries.
• Wage equality: still today an open challenge, but the result of decades of battles.
• Improvement of working conditions: from the strikes of the workers to the modern protections for motherhood.
• Divorce and reform of family law: rights conquered with difficulty, but today fundamental.

These struggles are the beating heart of women’s day and the reason why it is important remember its authentic meaning.

Rediscover the value of women’s day

Real Women’s day it shouldn’t be an opportunity for Receive gifts or go out for dinnerbut a moment for reflect on past battles and on those still to be fought. Today many women in the world they do not have access to education, freedom of choice or a fair salaryand gender disparity remains an unresolved question.

You should ask yourself: how much more there is to do for thefemale emancipation? Every time this day is trivialized, the sacrifice of Thousands of women who have fought to build a better future. THE’8 Marzo It is not just a date on the calendar, it is the symbol of a battle that continues every day.

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