Commemorating International Women’s Day

Gender equality is still a distant dream in many parts of the world, even though women have been fighting inequality for centuries. The first National Women’s Day was observed in the United States in 1909, and in 1910, Denmark followed suit, sparking a movement across Europe. Momentum for recognition and equal rights continued building across the globe throughout World War I and World War II. In 1977, International Women’s Day was officially recognized by the United Nations. Since that recognition, the U.N. has hosted four women’s conferences, which have helped strengthen and centralize the international women’s movement.