International Women's Day is celebrated all around the world. The purpose of this day is to recognize women and their achievements without regard to divisions. Since the early years, International Women's Day has assumed a new global dimension for women in developed and developing countries alike. The growing international women's movement has been strengthened by four global United Nations women's conferences. The conferences have helped make the commemoration a rallying point to build support for women's rights and gain participation in the political and economic arenas.
International Women's Day first emerged from the activities of labor movements at the turn of the twentieth century in North America and across Europe. The first National Woman's Day was documented in the United States on the 28th of February. The Socialist Party of America designated this day in honor of the 1908 garment workers' strike in New York, where women protested against working conditions. The first milestone in the US was much earlier in 1848. Indignant over women being barred from speaking at an anti-slavery convention, Americans Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott congregate a few hundred people at their nation’s first women’s rights convention in New York. Together they demand civil, social, political and religious rights for women in a Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions, the movement was then born and is now continuing to grow and strengthen by the year.
The theme for this year’s 2023 International Women's day is “Embrace Equity.” Wooster’s GirlUp club celebrated the event day by doing a Chapel presentation about women in sports as well as a partnership with Ridgefield Running Company. Wooster’s GirlUp chose to focus on equity in sports because “Teen girls who play sports are more likely to have high self esteem, strong leadership skills, better grades, stronger relationships, and improved physical health.” The GirlUp partnerships and presentations focused on both leadership in sports and statistics that still have a long way to go. GirlUp recognized Ridgefield Running Company owner Megan Searfoss for founding a store that has been recognized as America’s #1 running store, for starting the “Run Like a Mother” company and 5k, and writing the book “See Moms Run.” GirlUp members went to Ridgefield running Company to promote awareness and influence people to pledge the stop of sexism womens sports. GirlUp had a great way to celebrate International Women's Day!
