The Youtube video below explains that International Women’s Day (IWD), originally called International Women’s Day, is marked on March 8th every year. The way in which the day is celebrated varies from region to region but everyone who participates focuses on the political, economic, and social accomplishments made by females. The event began as a Socialist political event that blended cultures from Eastern Europe, the Soviet bloc, and Russia. IWD began to drift from its roots in many coutries and became just another day for men to celebrate women while the event was still recognized in the U.S. as a time to examine and discuss political and social issues and rights.
The theme song for the Google doodle title “True Romance” by Kevin McLeod sounds like it should be used for a Zanax or Menopause commercial. I don’t know why, but this song makes me feel a little depressed. I also have to admit that it reminds me of songs from a Charlie Brown movie, placed during skits where Brown is walking around feeling sad and isolated:
According to Washington Post writer, Michael Cavna, there are thousands of events worldwide — both today and throughout the month, from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe — are staged to honor women’s causes and achievements politically, economically and culturally. And different groups choose different empowering themes: The U.N. says the overall theme is “Empower Rural Women — End Hunger and Poverty”; the European Parliament has voted for the slogan ”Equal Pay for Work of Equal Value”; and the hub website International Women’s Day has picked “Connecting Girls, Inspiring Futures.”
The Sacramento Bee article “On International Women’s Day, Close in Gender Wage Gap Does Not Mean Progress” by The Institute for Women’s Policy Research indicates that a considerable wage gap still exists between men and women “the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, shows that in 2011 women earned 17.8 percent less than men for a week of full-time work.” Women of color experienced an even greater wage gap, “black women’s median full-time weekly earnings were only 69.5 percent, and Hispanic women’s only 60.5 percent, of the median weekly earnings of white men.”
While it is nice to have a day, it would be much better to get equal pay. That way more women could by cards, candy, and flowers on their own.