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Throughout history, women's labor has played a significant role in shaping social and economic structure, however it has often not received the value that it deserves. Although many gains have been made over the years, the struggle continues for all women in the world to live more equal and fair lives. In this respect, March 8 is not only a day of commemoration but also a reflection of the struggle for labor, equality and rights. As the echoes of the past reach the present, this meaningful day will continue to be a call to remind us of the value of women's labor and its power in social transformation. Let's take a closer look at the history of International Women's Day on March 8.

The History, Meaning and Importance of March 8 International Women's Day

March 8 International Women's Day is a symbol of the struggle for equality and justice. The United Nations officially declared March 8 as International Women's Day in 1975. This day emphasizes that women should have equal rights and opportunities by advocating gender equality.

The Birth of International Women's Day

The history of this day, which is extremely significant for women's rights and gender equality, is based on a painful event. 40,000 people working as weavers in a textile factory in New York, USA, started a strike on March 8, 1857, because they wanted to work in better conditions. The workers, who protested low wages, long working hours and poor working conditions, could not escape the fire that broke out in the factory during the strike due to the barricades that were set up in front of the factory. As a result of this fire, 129 women lost their lives. More than 10,000 people attended the funeral of the workers.

March 8: The Historical Journey of Labor and the Struggle for Equality

International Women's Day takes its roots from the workers' rights movement that rose at the beginning of the 20th century. In 1908, 15,000 women workers took to the streets in New York to demand fair wages and the right to vote. This courageous step became one of the cornerstones of the women's rights movement and a year later, March 8 was declared as the International Women's Day by the Socialist Party of America.

In 1910, German activist Clara Zetkin proposed making this day a Global Day of Commemoration at the International Conference of Working Women that was held in Copenhagen. Zetkin's call was unanimously accepted by women delegates from 17 countries and the first international events were held in Germany, Austria, Denmark and Switzerland.

Women's struggle for rights gained momentum over the years and in 1975, the United Nations (UN) officially declared March 8 as International Women's Day. Since then, the UN has continued to raise global awareness of women's rights by determining a different theme each year. The first theme, determined in 1996, was "Celebrating the past, planning for the future."

Colors of March 8

The colors of March 8 were determined by the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU) in England in 1908. These colors were accepted as purple, green and white. All of these colors have their own meaning. While purple represents justice and dignity, green represents hope. White is known as the representation of purity.

Theme of March 8 International Women's Day in 2025

The theme of March 8 International Women's Day in 2025 has been determined as "For all women and girls: rights, equality, empowerment". 2025 is an important milestone in the struggle for women's rights as it is the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.

A call is being made to take action to advance women's rights, promote gender equality and empower women. Despite years of struggle, global inequalities and crises continue today. This year, UN Women is calling on all communities to take action for equality. You can support this call and ask decision-makers to invest in women's rights on digital platforms using the hashtag #ForAllWomanAndGirls. 

March 8, which is an official holiday in some countries, is celebrated in various ways. March 8 International Women's Day is an important day when women in our country and all over the world can make their voices heard. Every year, millions of people come together on March 8, organize various events and try to raise awareness about women's rights.