International Women’s Day 2024: What is it and why do we celebrate it?

Transcript

00:00 Bright pink branding, women-centered events and inspirational girl boss quotes.

00:04 It's that time of the year again, International Women's Day.

00:07 Today is the 8th of March, which means it's International Women's Day.

00:11 Each year, the day revolves around different theme.

00:14 According to the official website, this year's is Inspire Inclusion.

00:17 Despite having been slightly co-opted by big corporations pushing their gender

00:21 inequality mission, it's a contentious day but overall important.

00:25 But most people don't know what actually is International Women's Day.

00:29 And why do we celebrate it?

00:31 International Women's Day is a global day designed to celebrate the social,

00:34 economic, cultural and political achievements of women.

00:37 Even though it feels like it's only recently become a big topic of public conversation,

00:41 the day was actually first honored in 1911 by several European countries.

00:45 It was then internationally recognized by the UN some years later in 1977.

00:50 It began as a day for women to fight for equality and representation on a global scale,

00:54 to give women the right to vote, improve working conditions and protest child labor, to name a few.

00:59 We've progressed leaps and bounds in terms of gender equality around the world.

01:03 But International Women's Day remains ever relevant as there's a lot more that needs to be done.

01:07 From the Taliban's oppression of women in Afghanistan to the overturning of Roe vs Wade in

01:11 2022, it's clear that gender parity is still a long way off.

01:15 UN chief Antonio Guterres has said that it would take another

01:18 three centuries to achieve gender equality worldwide.

01:21 And surprise, surprise, this day of women power isn't adored by all.

01:24 Well, what about International Men's Day is a common question you hear around the 8th of March.

01:29 Hate to break it to you, but every day is International Men's Day.

01:31 Any negative response to International Women's Day proves the exact reason why we need it.

01:36 The day is one big call to action and it's an opportunity to affect change,

01:40 to raise money for women's charities, to bring awareness to inequality,

01:43 to check on corporations that claim to be progressive.

01:46 At the end of the day, celebrating International Women's Day is never going to be a bad thing.