Men, get your wallets and compliments ready because March 8 is International Women’s Day (and we are expecting flowers).

IMAGE: STATUS OF WOMEN CANADA

Beginning in the early 20th century, International Women’s Day (IWD) was celebrated as a result of campaigning for women’s rights to work, vote, to hold public office and end discrimination while fighting for gender equality.

The first official declaration of IWD was in 1910 at an International Socialist Women’s Conference held a month before the socialist Second International congress. Luise Zietz, a leader of the German Social Democratic Party, made the motion which read:

“In agreement with the class-conscious, political and trade union organizations of the proletariat of their respective countries, the Socialist women of all countries will hold each year a Women’s Day, whose foremost purpose it must be to aid the attainment of women’s suffrage. This demand must be handled in conjunction with the entire women’s question according to Socialist precepts. The Women’s Day must have an international character and is to be prepared carefully.”

In contrast, the government of Canada’s official theme for IWD this year is “Strong women. Strong Canada. Canadian women – creating jobs one business at a time”. It focuses on the important roles women play in business as well as how they encourage innovation for the Canadian economy.

Today IWD includes men honouring all the women in their lives, from mothers to grandmothers and daughters to wives with flowers and tokens of appreciation, similar to Mother’s Day where children give small presents to their mothers and grandmothers.

Some 28 countries around the world celebrate IWD as a national public holiday.

The United Nations proclaimed March 8 as the UN Day for Women’s Rights and International Peace in 1977.

With files from Mick Sweetman