Background of International Women's Day
One of the most important figures in the history of
International Women's Day is Clara Zetkin, a German socialist and feminist who
proposed the idea of an annual international women's day at the International
Conference of Working Women in 1910. The first International Women's Day was
celebrated the following year, with rallies and demonstrations taking place
across Europe.
Since then, International Women's Day has grown in
prominence and is now recognized by the United Nations as a global observance.
Each year, the day is marked with a theme, with the theme for 2023 being
"Women in Leadership: Achieving an Equal Future in a COVID-19 World".
One of the key issues that International Women's Day seeks
to address is gender inequality, which is still pervasive in many parts of the
world. For example, women continue to earn less than men on average, and are
underrepresented in many fields, including politics and business.
However, there have also been many inspiring women
throughout history who have challenged the status quo and achieved remarkable
things. Marie Curie, for example, was the first woman to win the Nobel Prize,
and her work in the field of radioactivity revolutionized science. Rosa Parks
is another example of a woman who refused to accept the injustice of the status
quo, and her refusal to give up her seat on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama,
helped to spark the Civil Rights Movement in the United States.
Today, women continue to make progress towards greater
equality and recognition, but there is still much work to be done.
International Women's Day provides an important opportunity to celebrate
women's achievements, raise awareness about the challenges they face, and
advocate for gender equality around the world.
Classroom Activities and Resources
There are many interesting activities you can do in the classroom to get your students motivated and inspired by this topic!
Here are some resources that are already prepared for you to use in your classroom.