The roots of International Women’s Day can be traced back to the early 20th century, particularly in the United States and Europe, where women were fighting for better working conditions, equal pay, and the right to vote. During this period of industrialization, female workers were facing long hours, low wages, and poor working conditions. In response to this injustice, women raised their voices, organizing mass demonstrations and strikes to defend their rights.

The foundation of International Women’s Day dates back to a major textile worker strike in New York on March 8, 1908. During this strike, female workers demanded better working conditions, humane treatment, and suffrage. These struggles resonated strongly, leading to the proposal of establishing an international women’s day during the International Socialist Women’s Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark in 1910, championed by German socialist leader Clara Zetkin.

Since then, March 8 has become a symbol of the fight for women’s rights and gender equality, embraced as an opportunity to celebrate women’s social, economic, political, and cultural achievements worldwide. Particularly after its official recognition by the United Nations in 1977, International Women’s Day acquired global significance, becoming a critical platform for advocating for women’s rights.

Today, various events, marches, and campaigns are held in many countries to raise awareness of the challenges women face and promote gender equality. In Turkey, International Women’s Day was first observed in 1921 through the initiative of two communist sisters, Rahime Selimova and Cemile Nuşirvanova. Despite the prohibition of International Women’s Day celebrations for years following this, the activities of the Progressive Women’s Association in 1975 played a significant role in bringing the observance of March 8 to the streets and squares.