International Women’s Day, celebrated annually on March 8, is a special day celebrated around the world to recognize the achievements of women and promote gender equality. It is a time to remember the struggles women have faced and the progress they have made in different fields. This day also encourages people to support women’s rights and work towards a fair society. But do you know who first started this important day?
Founder of International Women Day
Clara Zetkin, a German activist, founded International Women’s Day in 1910. She fought for women’s rights, equal pay and voting rights. She proposed March 8 as a day to demand gender equality. The first Women’s Day was celebrated in 1911. Today, it is observed worldwide to honor women’s achievements and their fight for equal rights.
Early Life and Education of Clara Zetkin
Clara Zetkin was born on July 5, 1857, in a small village in Germany. Her father was a teacher and her mother was well-educated. She moved to Leipzig for higher studies and became interested in socialist ideas.
Political Career and Exile
During her early years, Germany had strict laws against socialist activities. To avoid arrest, she moved to Switzerland and later to France. There, she worked as a journalist and became active in the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD). She married Ossip Zetkin, a Russian Marxist, and adopted his surname.
Fight for Women’s Rights
Clara Zetkin strongly believed in women’s equality. She wanted women to have the right to vote, work and get equal pay. She was against rich women’s feminism, which only focused on upper-class women. She believed that working-class women needed rights and protections.
She also edited a newspaper for women called “Die Gleichheit” (Equality) for 25 years. In 1907, she became the leader of the SPD Women’s Office.
In Which Year Clara Zetkin Founded the International Women’s Day?
In 1910, Clara Zetkin proposed the idea of International Women’s Day at a meeting in Copenhagen, Denmark. She suggested that March 8 should be celebrated every year to demand women’s rights. The first Women’s Day was celebrated in 1911 in many countries, including Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
Opposition to War and Communism
During World War I, Zetkin opposed the war and wanted workers to unite instead of fighting each other. She was arrested many times for her anti-war speeches.
Later, she joined the Communist Party of Germany and became a member of the Reichstag (German Parliament) from 1920 to 1933.
Later Years and Death of Clara Zetkin
As the Nazi Party rose to power in Germany, Zetkin was forced to leave the country. She died in Russia on June 20, 1933, at the age of 75.
Legacy of Founder of International Women’s Day
Clara Zetkin’s efforts for women’s rights and socialism are remembered worldwide. Because of her efforts, International Women’s Day is celebrated globally as a day for gender equality and women’s empowerment.
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