International
Women’s Day
Why this day
Janus of Love was made for International Women’s Day. The day’s history begins with women’s campaigns for voting rights, better working conditions and participation in public life. The timeline below brings together key milestones, sources and historical images.
Origins
International Women’s Day grew from campaigns for voting rights and better working conditions. A National Woman’s Day was observed in the United States on 28 February 1909.
1910–1911 · An international observance
In Copenhagen in 1910, delegates to the International Socialist Women’s Conference supported an annual Women’s Day, with suffrage central to its purpose. Clara Zetkin was among its advocates. No fixed date was chosen.
1911 · The first observances
On 19 March 1911, more than a million people joined observances in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland, calling for voting rights, access to public office, employment and an end to discrimination.
1913 · A procession obstructed
On 3 March 1913, more than 5,000 women marched down Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C., to demand the vote. Spectators from a crowd of at least 250,000 streamed into the street and blocked the route. Police failed to control the crowd; marchers were attacked and dozens were injured before cavalry arrived to clear the way. The women continued, turning an attempt to silence them into a public demonstration of persistence.
Sources: National Park Service · 1913 Woman Suffrage Procession ↗; Library of Congress · Marching for the Vote ↗.
Posters and public space
The two images below show how women’s demands entered public space. The American programme was made for the 1913 suffrage procession in Washington. The German poster announces International Women’s Day on 8 March 1914.
Why 8 March?
In 1917, women in Russia struck for “bread and peace” on 23 February in the Julian calendar—8 March in the Gregorian calendar. Their protest helped establish the date’s lasting association with International Women’s Day. The 1914 poster shows that the date had also been used earlier.
1975–1977 · United Nations recognition
The United Nations began observing International Women’s Day in 1975. In 1977, the General Assembly adopted a resolution concerning a United Nations Day for Women’s Rights and International Peace.
1995 · Beijing
At the Fourth World Conference on Women, 189 governments adopted the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. Its twelve areas of concern included education, health, violence, economic participation and decision-making.
The sculpture
The concept is by Silvia Schwarzer; the sculpture is by George Petrides. For the work’s personal connection to this day, read the Artist’s Statement.