Every year on 8 March, International Women’s Day (IWD) is marked worldwide, a day that sees heads of state, governments, and commercial brands alike sending out messages celebrating women’s equality and empowerment. Yet, sometimes I feel the commercialisation has somewhere led us to overlook the true roots of International Women’s Day and the purpose.
For me, like so many others, IWD is a deeply personal occasion. Those who know me well know that my mother is my ultimate superwoman, my shero. Our mothers are often the backbone of our lives, shaping who we become as women. We witness their relentless balancing act whether that’s at home, in work or in business, and it’s this resilience that inspires us to push forward. We learn from them how to be strong, how to fight for our place in the world. And yet, as we carve our own paths, we make ourselves a silent promise: to eliminate the struggles we saw them endure. Some of us succeed. Others are still trying.
That very struggle is what birthed International Women’s Day. In the early 1900s, women around the world were resisting oppression and inequality, raising their voices and demanding change. In 1908, 15,000 women marched through New York City, calling for shorter working hours, better pay, and the right to vote. Their movement gained momentum, and by 1911, the first official International Women’s Day was honoured in Copenhagen, drawing over a million women and men to rallies advocating for women’s rights, rights to work, vote, receive education, hold public office, and end discrimination.
But just days later, tragedy struck. On 25 March 1911, the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire in New York City claimed the lives of more than 140 working women, most of them Italian and Jewish immigrants. This devastating event exposed the dire working conditions women faced and became a catalyst for labour rights reforms. It remains a stark reminder of why we continue to fight for fair and equal treatment.
International Women’s Day is not about superiority or diminishing the role of men. It is about equity, acceptance, and the right to the same opportunities. While the gender gap has narrowed over the years, true equality still eludes us. Will it happen in my lifetime? I don’t know. But what I do know is that my deepest gratitude belongs to the changemakers, women and men, who tirelessly push boundaries to create a more just and equal world.
We stand on the shoulders of those who shattered glass ceilings, who paved the way for future generations to step into spaces once deemed unimaginable. Our news headlines have often been filled with the phrase ‘first female’—the first female pilot, the first female CEO, the first female astronaut. To the trailblazers who reached those milestones, and to the women who followed in their footsteps, IWD is a tribute to you.
For me, International Women’s Day is more than a celebration, it’s a reminder to keep championing the fight for equality and to honour the sheroes who came before us.
Happy International Women’s Day to all.
