Happy National Women’s Day

Who are your favorite women?

HISTORY

The first National Woman's Day was celebrated in the U.S. on February 28, 1909. It was created by the Socialist Party of America in honor of the 1908 garment workers' strike in New York, where women protested against working conditions.

In 1913 and 1914 International Women's Day became a way of protesting World War I as well.

In 1975 the United Nations began observing International Women's Day on March 8.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TODAY?

According to internationalwomensday.com, it is a day to celebrate the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. It also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity.

WHAT IS A DAY WITHOUT A WOMAN?

According to KTVB, organizers behind the Woman's March in January are using International Woman's Day as a day of action to "spotlight the economic power and value of women and their contributions to society in paid and unpaid labor".

• HOW TO PARTICIPATE? If you want to take part in the protest, organizers are encouraging women to not work, whether your job is paid or unpaid; avoid shopping in stores and online -- except for local small businesses and women-owned companies that support A Day Without a Woman. Women are also encouraged to wear red.
• WHY THE COLOR RED? The color red has been chosen to represent "revolutionary love and sacrifice." Red also has a history with the labor movement.

Whether you're participating in protest or not International Women's Day is a day to honor and celebrate the women in your life and those who have paved the way for other women. So? Who are your favorite women?