A Guide to Celebrating International Women's Day and Women's History M

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International Women's Day is celebrated on March 8 each year, and Women's History Month takes place throughout March in the United States. As a company who is women-owned and prides itself on empowering those around us, it was a top priority to dedicate a blog post to the celebrations.

You don't have to be a woman to partake in the celebrations and to advocate for women's equality. This guide explains the history of International Women's Day, why Women's History Month exists, and 10 meaningful ways you can celebrate and support women's equality.

What is International Women's Day?

International Women's Day is a chance for people across the globe to celebrate the vast array of women's achievements. From social, economic, cultural, and political strides, all wins are celebrated.

It's also an opportunity to raise awareness of gender disparities and to fight for gender equality. It's a call-in for everyone—regardless of race, class, gender, and more—to recognize the importance of equality and to join the movement.

Why Do We Celebrate Women's Day on March 8?

The reason International Women's Day is celebrated on March 8th every year dates back to the Russian Revolution of the 1900s. On March 8, 1917, over 1 million people gathered together to fight for women's suffrage and labor rights in Russia.

Vladimir Lenin declared March 8 as International Working Women's Day in 1922 to honor the 1917 protest. From 1922 on, nations around the globe began to declare International Women's Day as a holiday. They hold their own celebrations and focus on issues that are relevant to their female citizens.

Why is International Women's Day Important?

To date, women are still not equal to men across the globe. Every day, women see their rights stripped in front of their very eyes and watch the movement take steps back. The fight is far from over and it's vital to be loud about women's issues to continue sparking change.

It's also important to celebrate successes, no matter how large or small, to keep hope alive and to remember what the fight is for. Our ancestors before us fought hard to earn the rights we have today and it's our duty to pay it forward to the next generation.

Women's Day is an opportunity to thank the activists and changemakers that came before us and got the movement to where it is today. From Gloria Steinem to Marsha P. Johnson, many powerful women dedicated their lives to the fight for equality.

Why is March Women's History Month?

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The celebration and fight for women's equality isn't limited to March 8. The entire month of March is dedicated to Women's History in the United States.

The first celebrations began in Santa Rosa, California in 1978. They started as a week-long celebration coined, "Women's History Week" that ran the week of March 8 to align with International Women's Day.

Word of the celebration spread and cities across the country began planning their own week-long celebrations. It wasn't until 1980 that the National Women's History Alliance successfully lobbied for the week to have national recognition.

Years later in 1987, Congress passed a law designating March as Women's History Month. It's great to have an entire month where the focus is on celebrating trailblazers and speaking out against gender disparity.

5 Important Facts About Women's History Month

To fully understand what the fight is for, and why Women's History Month is important, you need to learn the facts that share key moments of the month.

These 5 facts help explain how Women's History Month has changed over the years and what wins we've already seen:

Since 1995, the President has declared March as Women's History Month each year.
It wasn't until 1965 that women of all races could legally vote (the 19th Amendment, granting women the right to vote, was ratified in 1920)
The first National Women's History Day was celebrated in New York City in 1909
The Wyoming Territory was the first place to grant women the right to vote
To date, there's a record number of women in Congress (roughly 30%)

As you can see, a lot has been accomplished in the last century. However, there is still a lot of work to be done.

How Do You Honor Women's History Month? 10 Ways to Celebrate

Now that you know more about the history of International Women's Day and Women's History Month, let's talk about ways that you can participate this year.

Again, you don't need to be a woman to join the fight for equality. No matter who you are, it's important to show up for your community and support the women in your life.

If you aren't sure how you can participate in Women's History Month, we put together a list of 10 accessible ways you can celebrate:

Attend Women's History Month programming. Check out your local museums, art galleries, libraries, and theaters to see if there are any events happening in March dedicated too Women's History.
Learn about women's history. One of the easiest ways you can celebrate is by actually learning about women's history. Pick up a book, watch a documentary, or tune into a podcast to learn more about amazing women in history.
Celebrate wins. Keep an eye on your local, national, and global news to see what's happening to women all around you. Celebrate the wins, no matter how big or small, when you read about them.
Shop from women-owned businesses. Support your local, women-owned businesses in the month of March. When you need to buy something new, challenge yourself to find a women-owned business to get what you need. If you need inspiration, check out some of our favorite women-owned businesses to get started!
Donate and volunteer. Find organizations that support women in your community and donate your money or time to help with their causes.
Use your voice. Spread awareness for women's issues and speak out against injustices. Use your platform to encourage more people to join the movement.
Recognize intersectionality of women's issues. There are disparities within the women's movement. Race, class, sexuality, and more play a factor in how a woman is affected by inequality. Amplify marginalized voices where you can.
Consume women's media. Watch movies written and directed by women. Start a book club where you read books by female authors. Uncover new music from female artists.
Join local marches. See if there are any protests or marches you can join to continue fighting for women's equality.
Celebrate the important women in your life. Spend time with your mothers and grandmothers. Thank them for everything they've gone through to get you to where you are today. Get together with your girl friends and focus on spreading joy.

There are plenty of other ways you can show up this Women's History Month. Take this as your sign to conduct your own research and find out what's happening in your community.

Celebrate Women's Empowerment With Meaningful Gifts

All that's left is to celebrate women's empowerment! Whether you're a woman or not, it is undeniable that women are a vital part of society.

If you're looking for something to tell the special women in your life how much you admire their strength, check out these pieces of fidget jewelry that celebrate strong women: