{"id":1923,"date":"2025-03-03T12:00:55","date_gmt":"2025-03-03T12:00:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.manchester.ac.uk\/edi\/?p=1923"},"modified":"2025-03-04T12:11:22","modified_gmt":"2025-03-04T12:11:22","slug":"molly-waterfall-the-radical-roots-of-international-womens-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.manchester.ac.uk\/edi\/2025\/03\/03\/molly-waterfall-the-radical-roots-of-international-womens-day\/","title":{"rendered":"Molly Waterfall: The Radical Roots of International Women\u2019s Day"},"content":{"rendered":"

[et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” fullwidth=”on” next_background_color=”#000000″ global_module=”322″][et_pb_fullwidth_menu global_parent=”322″ _builder_version=”3.0.106″ menu_id=”7″ submenu_direction=”downwards” fullwidth_menu=”off” background_layout=”dark” module_class=”main-navigation” \/][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”off” specialty=”on” prev_background_color=”#000000″ next_background_color=”#1d1d1d”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ specialty_columns=”2″][et_pb_row_inner locked=”off”][et_pb_column_inner type=”4_4″ saved_specialty_column_type=”2_3″][et_pb_post_title _builder_version=”3.17.6″ featured_placement=”above” locked=”on” parent_locked=”off” date_format=”j M Y” \/][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.17.6″ background_layout=”light” parent_locked=”off”]<\/p>\n

International Women\u2019s Day (IWD) is celebrated on 8th<\/sup> 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.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

The radical history of women\u2019s liberation<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

In 1908, almost 30,000 American garment workers, predominantly low-paid migrant women, attempted to shut down the garment industry. On the 8th<\/sup> 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\u2019s Day in honour of the garment workers.<\/p>\n

In 1910, German Socialists proposed the establishment of a Women\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

Working women in Petrograd, Russia launched the February revolution against orders from the Bolshevik leaders on 8th<\/sup> 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.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

The current state of women\u2019s liberation<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Considering the radical roots of International Women\u2019s 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\u2019s rights, stripping abortion access from over 25 million American women and driving maternal mortality up by 56% in some states.<\/p>\n

The re-election of Donald Trump paints an even bleaker picture. Just a month into his presidency, Trump\u2019s re-election has already restricted public access to key women\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, the Taliban have taken power over Afghanistan, cracking down on women\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

Despite the continuous attack on women\u2019s rights, the struggle remains alive.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

The future of the movement<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

In 2024, activists led by Fatou Baldeh helped defeat a bill to overturn The Gambia\u2019s Female Genital Mutilation ban. By mobilising survivors, engaging religious leaders, and presenting medical evidence, they ensured the ban remained, protecting thousands of girls.<\/p>\n

In 2023, Sierra Leone passed the Gender Equality and Women\u2019s Empowerment Act, mandating equal pay, financial access, and 30% female representation in leadership. President Bio and activists also secured legal protections against workplace discrimination.<\/p>\n

London\u2019s 18th<\/sup> annual Million Women Rise march takes place on IWD 2025, rallying against all forms of violence against all women and girls.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_post_nav _builder_version=”3.0.106″ in_same_term=”off” show_prev=”on” show_next=”on” prev_text=”Previous” next_text=”Next” locked=”on” parent_locked=”off” \/][et_pb_comments _builder_version=”3.0.106″ show_avatar=”on” show_reply=”on” show_count=”on” background_layout=”light” header_font_size_tablet=”51″ header_line_height_tablet=”2″ custom_button=”on” button_icon_placement=”right” button_text_color=”#ffffff” button_use_icon=”off” locked=”on” parent_locked=”off” button_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_text_size__hover=”null” button_one_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_size__hover=”null” button_two_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_size__hover=”null” button_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_text_color__hover=”null” button_one_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_color__hover=”null” button_two_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_color__hover=”null” button_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_width__hover=”null” button_one_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_width__hover=”null” button_two_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_width__hover=”null” button_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_color__hover=”null” button_one_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_color__hover=”null” button_two_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_color__hover=”null” button_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_radius__hover=”null” button_one_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_radius__hover=”null” button_two_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_radius__hover=”null” button_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_letter_spacing__hover=”null” button_one_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_letter_spacing__hover=”null” button_two_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_letter_spacing__hover=”null” button_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_bg_color__hover=”null” button_one_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_bg_color__hover=”null” button_two_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_bg_color__hover=”null” \/][et_pb_text admin_label=”Related posts” _builder_version=”3.0.106″ background_layout=”light” locked=”on” parent_locked=”off”]<\/p>\n

Related<\/h1>\n

Related posts:<\/h3>
<\/div>
<\/div>
<\/div>

Lauren Bramley: March was Endometriosis and PCOS Awareness Month!<\/h2><\/div><\/div><\/a>
<\/div>

Katya Sloboda-Bolton: The importance of intersectionality to #AccelerateAction \u2013 International Women...<\/h2><\/div><\/div><\/a>
<\/div>

Dr Jessica Gagnon: Women in STEM: Tackling Inequalities and Building Inclusive Futures \u2013 Part 1: Cha...<\/h2><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column_inner][\/et_pb_row_inner][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_sidebar _builder_version=”3.0.106″ area=”sidebar-1″ orientation=”left” show_border=”off” background_layout=”light” locked=”on” \/][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Connect Title” custom_padding=”0px||0px|” _builder_version=”3.0.90″ background_color=”#1d1d1d” module_class=”footer-section” prev_background_color=”#ffffff” global_module=”380″][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” global_parent=”380″ locked=”off” allow_player_pause=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on” parallax_1=”off” parallax_method_1=”off” parallax_2=”off” parallax_method_2=”off” parallax_3=”off” parallax_method_3=”off” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” use_custom_gutter=”off” make_equal=”off” module_id=”footer-row” _builder_version=”3.0.89″][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Contact Us Title” global_parent=”380″ background_layout=”dark” text_text_color=”#ffffff” parent_locked=”off” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” background_size=”initial”]<\/p>\n

Contact Us<\/h4>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Contact Us” global_parent=”380″ text_text_color=”#aaaaaa” parent_locked=”off” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” module_class=”contact-us” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” background_size=”initial”]<\/p>\n

+44 (0) 161 306 6000<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Find Us Title” global_parent=”380″ background_layout=”dark” text_text_color=”#ffffff” parent_locked=”off” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” background_size=”initial”]<\/p>\n

Find Us<\/h4>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Address” global_parent=”380″ background_layout=”dark” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” module_id=”address” parent_locked=”off” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” background_size=”initial”]<\/p>\n

The University of Manchester
Oxford Rd
Manchester
M13 9PL
UK<\/a><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Connect Title” global_parent=”380″ background_layout=”dark” text_text_color=”#ffffff” parent_locked=”off” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” background_size=”initial”]<\/p>\n

Connect With Us<\/h4>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_code admin_label=”Social Media” global_parent=”380″ parent_locked=”off” _builder_version=”3.17.6″]<\/p>\n