International Women’s Day (IWD) is celebrated on 8^th March every year, commemorating the political and cultural achievements of women, and the power that we yield when working as a collective. IWD also stands as a reminder that achieving true gender equality is still far from sight, and that we must fight to be truly free from the patriarchy.

The radical history of women’s liberation

In 1908, almost 30,000 American garment workers, predominantly low-paid migrant women, attempted to shut down the garment industry. On the 8^th of March, 15,000 working women marched through New York to protest child labour and sweatshop conditions, and demanding the right to vote. The following year, the Socialist Party of America held the first International Women’s Day in honour of the garment workers.

In 1910, German Socialists proposed the establishment of a Women’s Day at the International Conference of Working Women in Copenhagen. The motion was passed unanimously by over 100 women from 17 countries, and in 1911 IWD was marked for the first time.

Working women in Petrograd, Russia launched the February revolution against orders from the Bolshevik leaders on 8^th March 1917. The women of Petrograd stormed the streets, denouncing the Tsar and protesting food prices. Food riots, political strikes and demonstrations followed and within a week the Tsar had abdicated. IWD was adopted as an official holiday in Russia after the revolution and as a result was celebrated in communist and socialist countries, such as China and Spain, from the 1920s.

The current state of women’s liberation

Considering the radical roots of International Women’s Day, it is unclear whether we have progressed as a society or rather regressed to a darker time for women. The 2022 overturning of Roe v. Wade marked a major setback for women’s rights, stripping abortion access from over 25 million American women and driving maternal mortality up by 56% in some states.

The re-election of Donald Trump paints an even bleaker picture. Just a month into his presidency, Trump’s re-election has already restricted public access to key women’s health information. Government websites, including the National Identities of Health and the Centre for Disease Control, have been purged of references to gender equity, vaccines, and contraception, limiting access to vital resources.

Meanwhile, the Taliban have taken power over Afghanistan, cracking down on women’s rights harder than ever. Women are no longer allowed to be seen or heard in public and must have their husbands escort them wherever they go. This marks a disturbing backpedal on rights that women and girls in Afghanistan have long fought for.

Despite the continuous attack on women’s rights, the struggle remains alive.

The future of the movement

After being denied an abortion for a nonviable pregnancy due to Texas’ strict abortion laws, activist Amanda Zurawski developed sepsis. She became the lead plaintiff in Zurawski v. Texas, a landmark lawsuit challenging the state’s abortion bans. Her testimony and widespread media coverage pressured lawmakers, and in December 2023, a Texas judge ruled that the state must allow exceptions for medical emergencies.

In 2024, activists led by Fatou Baldeh helped defeat a bill to overturn The Gambia’s Female Genital Mutilation ban. By mobilising survivors, engaging religious leaders, and presenting medical evidence, they ensured the ban remained, protecting thousands of girls.

In 2023, Sierra Leone passed the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Act, mandating equal pay, financial access, and 30% female representation in leadership. President Bio and activists also secured legal protections against workplace discrimination.

London’s 18^th annual Million Women Rise march takes place on IWD 2025, rallying against all forms of violence against all women and girls.

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