Every year on March 8, the world celebrates International Women’s Day, with leaders, governments, and brands sending messages of solidarity for women’s empowerment and equality. However, the true origins of this day are often overlooked, with its historical roots deeply entwined in the labor movements and social struggles of the early 20th century.

The Birth of International Women’s Day

The origins of International Women’s Day can be traced back to the struggles of women workers, particularly in the wake of the Industrial Revolution. In New York, garment workers, mostly women, began rising against appalling wages and working conditions. Their actions formed the backbone of a movement that extended beyond the workplace to demand political and social equality. The wave of activism found inspiration in the larger socialist and anti-imperialist struggles of the time.

Alexandra Kollontai, a Russian revolutionary and politician, is often credited with highlighting the 1909 American socialist women’s demonstration as the first true Women’s Day celebration. Kollontai, who later wrote extensively on the event, argued that it was the working-class women in the U.S. who initiated the first celebration of this day, paving the way for future global observances.

The 1910 Copenhagen Congress

In 1910, inspired by the U.S. women’s movements, the Second International Congress of Socialist Women in Copenhagen, Denmark, decided to formally establish International Women’s Day. March 19, 1911, saw the first official observance of the day, with women across Europe taking to the streets in massive demonstrations for suffrage and labor rights.

March 8th: The Shift to Global Recognition

By 1913, the date of International Women’s Day was moved to March 8, aligning it with the Gregorian calendar. This change marked a turning point in the global recognition of women’s struggles. The day became a powerful tool for agitating for change among even the most politically disengaged working women. Kollontai noted in 1920 that Women’s Day “achieved something,” drawing attention to issues that had long been ignored, especially the plight of working-class women.

The Garment Workers’ Strike

Central to the origins of Women’s Day were the garment workers, who represented one of the largest groups of female laborers in the early 20th century. These women were subjected to long hours—sometimes up to 75 hours a week—poor working conditions, and meager pay. Many were part of an internal subcontracting system that excluded them from being considered skilled workers and thus kept their wages far lower than those of their male counterparts.

In 1909, the New York Shirtwaist Strike, also known as the Uprising of the 20,000, became a landmark event in labor history. Led by Clara Lemlich, a 23-year-old garment worker, the strike demanded better wages and improved working conditions. Lemlich famously declared, “I have no further patience for talk. I move we go on a general strike!” This marked a defining moment in the fight for women’s rights in the workplace.

In 1910, Chicago’s garment workers held a similar strike, protesting a bonus system that demanded increasingly higher production rates. These strikes helped raise awareness of the systemic exploitation of female workers, eventually leading to the expansion of voting rights for women in the U.S. in 1920.

The “Bread and Roses” Slogan

The phrase “Bread and Roses” became synonymous with the women’s labor movement, symbolizing the workers’ demand for not only fair wages (“bread”) but also dignity, respect, and a better quality of life (“roses”). The slogan gained prominence after a 1912 speech by labor activist Rose Schneiderman, who argued that women workers had the right to live fully, not just to exist. The “Bread and Roses” slogan transcended economic demands, advocating for the recognition of women’s humanity.

Women’s Day and the Russian Revolution

The significance of International Women’s Day grew even further in 1917 during the Russian Revolution. On March 8, 1917 (February 23 in the Julian calendar), textile workers in Petrograd marched to demand the end of the First World War, better wages, and an end to Tsarist autocracy. This historic march was one of the key events that sparked the Russian Revolution.

Revolutionary leader Leon Trotsky famously noted, “We did not imagine that this ‘Women’s Day’ would inaugurate the revolution.” In recognition of the women’s pivotal role in the revolution, Vladimir Lenin declared March 8 as an official holiday in 1922.

The Global Legacy

Today, International Women’s Day is a global celebration of the progress women have made, and a reminder of the work still to be done in achieving gender equality. The day honors not just the political achievements of women, but also their continuous struggle for economic, social, and cultural empowerment.

While businesses and political leaders use March 8 as an opportunity to pay tribute to women’s progress, it is crucial to remember that the day’s origins are grounded in the struggles of working-class women who fought for better wages, working conditions, and political representation. It is a day that carries with it a deep history of resistance, solidarity, and the ongoing fight for justice.