Gender Equality From Past To Present

The Origins and Evolution of International Women’s Day

Every year, nations worldwide pause on 8 March to honour International Women’s Day, a tradition stretching back over a century. Rooted in activism, the day now serves as both a celebration of progress and a reminder of persistent inequalities. While modern observances often feature rallies, educational events, and social media campaigns, the origins of this day trace back to grassroots movements demanding fundamental rights.

The story begins in 1911, when over a million people across Austria, Denmark, Germany, and Switzerland marked the first International Women’s Day. Notably, the date initially fluctuated; events occurred in March without fixed alignment. By 1913, however, 8 March solidified as the annual marker, coinciding with protests by Russian women textile workers during the 1917 Revolution. These demonstrations, which catalysed broader societal upheaval, underscored the day’s growing symbolic weight. Decades later, in 1977, the United Nations formalised the date, urging member states to adopt it as a platform for advocacy.

The Roots of Inequality: A Historical Perspective

To grasp the day’s importance, one must confront centuries of systemic gender disparity. Ancient civilisations, from Rome to Han China, often codified women’s inferior status. Roman law, for instance, barred women from owning property or participating in civic life, while Confucian teachings declared them subordinate to men. Such ideologies permeated global cultures, relegating women to domestic roles and denying them legal autonomy.

Even in progressive societies, progress proved glacial. Consider Britain’s 19th-century marriage laws: until the 1870 Married Women’s Property Act, wives could not retain earnings or inherit assets. Similarly, the 1857 Matrimonial Causes Act permitted divorce but required women to prove extreme cruelty alongside adultery, while men needed only the latter. These inequities fuelled early feminist movements, with figures like Barbara Bodichon and Lydia Becker campaigning for legal reforms.

The Suffrage Movement: Sparks of Change

The late 19th and early 20th centuries witnessed a seismic shift, as suffrage campaigns gained momentum. In 1848, Elizabeth Cady Stanton’s Seneca Falls Convention in New York became a watershed moment, demanding voting rights, education access, and economic independence for women. Though met with ridicule initially, Stanton’s resolve inspired transatlantic activism. By 1869, the National Woman Suffrage Association emerged in the US, while Millicent Fawcett founded the National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies in Britain.

Yet divisions arose over strategy. Emmeline Pankhurst’s Women’s Social and Political Union, established in 1903, embraced militant tactics—hunger strikes, arson, and window-smashing—to force attention. Meanwhile, Fawcett’s “suffragists” favoured lobbying and petitions. Despite clashes, both groups shared a goal: political representation. Their efforts culminated in the 1918 Representation of the People Act, granting voting rights to British women over 30 who met property qualifications. Full electoral parity arrived only in 1928, a decade later.

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War and Workforce: A Turning Point

World War I irrevocably altered gender dynamics. With millions of men conscripted, women filled roles previously deemed unsuitable—munitions factory workers, tram conductors, and even engineers. By 1918, roughly 1.5 million women had entered Britain’s industrial workforce, a 50% increase from 1914. Their contributions dismantled stereotypes about female capability, though post-war demobilisation saw many pushed back into domestic spheres.

The conflict also highlighted healthcare disparities. Over 70% of wartime nurses received no formal training, yet their frontline service proved indispensable. Figures like Elsie Inglis, who founded all-female medical units, challenged institutional sexism. Though Inglis died in 1917, her Scottish Women’s Hospitals treated over 120,000 soldiers, earning recognition from Serbia and France.

Global Ripples: Beyond Western Borders

While Western narratives dominate historical accounts, parallel movements flourished elsewhere. In 1911, Chinese feminist Qiu Jin advocated for foot-binding abolition and female education before her execution. Japan’s 1911 Bluestocking Society, led by Hiratsuka Raichō, critiqued patriarchal norms through literary journals. Meanwhile, Egyptian activist Huda Sha’arawi co-founded the Egyptian Feminist Union in 1923, defying colonial and cultural barriers by publicly removing her veil.

These efforts intersected with anti-colonial struggles. Indian suffragist Sarojini Naidu, for example, linked women’s rights to independence from British rule. Her 1917 address to the Indian National Congress demanded voting rights, framing them as essential for national progress. By 1947, the newly independent India enshrined gender equality in its constitution—a landmark achievement.

The Road to Recognition

International Women’s Day’s formalisation by the UN in 1977 reflected growing institutional support. Yet grassroots activism remained vital. In 1975, the UN’s first World Conference on Women in Mexico City drew 133 governments, producing a 10-year plan to combat discrimination. Subsequent conferences in Copenhagen (1980), Nairobi (1985), and Beijing (1995) expanded agendas to address issues like reproductive rights and workplace harassment.

Today, the day’s themes evolve annually. The 2023 campaign, #EmbraceEquity, focused on closing the gender pay gap—a persistent challenge. According to the World Economic Forum’s 2022 report, global parity remains 132 years away at current rates. Such statistics underscore the day’s enduring relevance, bridging past struggles with future aspirations.

The Beijing Declaration: A Blueprint for Equality

When the United Nations convened its Fourth World Conference on Women in 1995, delegates from 189 countries adopted the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. This landmark document outlined 12 critical areas for advancing gender equality, ranging from education to political participation. At the time, only 12 nations had laws against domestic violence; by 2025, that number surged to 1,583 legislative measures across 193 countries. The declaration also marked the first global policy to explicitly address girls’ rights, setting benchmarks for youth engagement and legal protections.

Three decades later, the Beijing+30 anniversary in 2025 highlights both progress and gaps. While 112 countries now implement National Action Plans on women, peace, and security—up from 19 in 2010—conflicts in regions like Sudan and Ukraine disproportionately affect women and girls. UN Women’s 2025 report, Women’s Rights in Review, notes that 2.4 billion women of working age still lack equal economic opportunities, a stark reminder of unfinished agendas.

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Grassroots Activism in the Digital Age

Social media has transformed advocacy, enabling movements like #MeToo and #NiUnaMenos to transcend borders. In 2017, the #MeToo hashtag went viral, exposing systemic sexual harassment and triggering policy reforms in over 85 countries. Argentina’s #NiUnaMenos, launched in 2015, sparked regional protests against femicide, leading to stricter penalties for gender-based violence in Mexico and Colombia.

Meanwhile, youth-led initiatives amplify intergenerational dialogue. Malala Yousafzai’s 2013 address to the UN General Assembly, following her near-fatal shooting by the Taliban, galvanised support for girls’ education. By 2025, her Malala Fund had invested £45 million in programmes across 10 countries, helping over 20 million girls attend school. Similarly, Greta Thunberg’s climate strikes underscore how environmental justice intersects with gender equity, as women constitute 80% of those displaced by climate crises.

Corporate Accountability and Economic Empowerment

Corporate sectors increasingly recognise gender diversity as a driver of innovation. Since 2010, the number of Fortune 500 companies with female CEOs rose from 15 to 53 by 2023. Iceland, topping the Global Gender Gap Index for 14 consecutive years, mandates equal pay certification for firms with 25+ employees, reducing its wage gap to 10%. Conversely, the World Bank estimates that closing gender employment gaps globally could boost GDP by £20 trillion by 2050.

Grassroots enterprises also play pivotal roles. Bangladesh’s Grameen Bank, founded by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, disbursed £22 billion in microloans to women since 1983, lifting millions from poverty. In Nigeria, the Nollywood film industry, 70% female-led, challenges stereotypes through narratives centred on women’s agency.

Cultural Shifts: Art, Sport, and Representation

Artistic expression continues to dismantle patriarchal norms. The 2023 Barbie film, directed by Greta Gerwig, grossed £1.2 billion worldwide while critiquing societal expectations of women. Meanwhile, the Louvre reported a 40% increase in exhibitions featuring female artists since 2015, though women still represent only 13% of its permanent collection.

In sports, milestones like the 2023 Women’s World Cup broke records, with 1.5 billion viewers tuning in globally. England’s Lionesses, champions of the 2022 UEFA tournament, leveraged their platform to demand equal access to sports education for girls. Their #LetGirlsPlay campaign prompted the UK government to pledge £600 million for school sports facilities by 2025.

Legislative Frontiers: Progress and Backlash

Legal advancements often face fierce opposition. In 2022, the US Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, stripping federal abortion rights and igniting protests in 50 states. Conversely, France enshrined abortion access in its constitution in 2024, a global first. Poland’s 2020 near-total abortion ban sparked the largest protests since 1989, while Argentina’s 2021 legalisation of abortion up to 14 weeks inspired similar bills across Latin America.

Quota systems have bolstered political representation. Rwanda leads with 61% female parliamentarians, followed by Cuba (53%) and the UAE (50%). Yet only 26% of global ministerial positions are held by women, with defence and finance portfolios remaining male-dominated.

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Intersectionality: Addressing Overlapping Marginalisations

Modern feminism increasingly prioritises intersectionality, a term coined by Kimberlé Crenshaw in 1989. Indigenous women in Canada, for instance, face homicide rates six times higher than non-Indigenous women. Australia’s 2023 Wiyi Yani U Thangani report outlined 65 recommendations to address systemic disparities faced by First Nations women, from healthcare access to land rights.

Disability rights also gain prominence. In 2024, the UK’s first-ever government strategy for disabled women pledged £1.3 billion to improve employment opportunities and healthcare access. Meanwhile, Kenya’s 2022 elections saw four deaf women elected to county assemblies, a breakthrough for political inclusion.

Crises as Catalysts: Pandemics and Conflict

The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated existing inequalities, with women losing jobs at 1.8 times the rate of men. Lockdowns saw a 30% rise in domestic violence reports across the EU, prompting France to fund 1,000 new women’s shelters. Conversely, New Zealand’s gender-responsive budget allocated £36 million to childcare and pay equity, reducing its gender pay gap to 5.9% by 2023.

War zones present unique challenges. Ukraine’s female-led volunteer networks, such as Anna Mykhalchuk’s Lviv Volunteer Kitchen, have delivered 12 million meals to displaced families since 2022. Meanwhile, Sudanese doctor Hiba Morgan’s frontline dispatches highlighted how 70% of health workers in conflict zones are women, yet they hold only 25% of leadership roles.

Education: The Foundation of Future Equity

Girls’ education remains a linchpin for progress. UNESCO reports that each additional year of schooling boosts a woman’s earnings by 12%, yet 129 million girls remain out of school globally. Afghanistan’s 2023 Taliban ban on girls’ education beyond primary school sparked international condemnation, while Pakistan’s Zindagi Trust has enrolled 45,000 out-of-school girls since 2020 through community partnerships.

Higher education also sees strides. In 2022, women outnumbered men in UK university admissions for the first time, comprising 52% of entrants. However, STEM fields lag, with women making up just 24% of engineering graduates. Initiatives like Rolls-Royce’s Women in Engineering scholarships aim to double female participation by 2030.

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Technology’s Dual Role: Empowerment and Risk

As digital innovation accelerates, its impact on gender equality remains double-edged. On one hand, tech platforms amplify marginalised voices. Tarana Burke’s #MeToo movement, founded in 2006, gained global traction through Twitter, leading to the 2017 viral surge that toppled powerful figures like Harvey Weinstein. Similarly, Saudi activist Manahel Al-Otaibi used TikTok to critique guardianship laws, reaching 2 million followers before her 2023 arrest.

Conversely, online spaces often perpetuate harm. A 2023 Plan International study found that 58% of girls worldwide face harassment on social media, with 20% reporting threats of physical violence. Deepfake pornography, targeting women like Taylor Swift and Indian journalist Rana Ayyub, underscores urgent regulatory gaps. The EU’s 2024 Digital Services Act now mandates swift removal of abusive content, yet enforcement remains patchy in the Global South.

Grassroots tech initiatives offer hope. Kenya’s Ushahidi platform, co-founded by Juliana Rotich, crowdsources data on gender-based violence, while India’s MyGov portal trains women in AI and blockchain. By 2025, UNESCO aims to ensure 50% of its AI ethics guidelines focus on gender bias mitigation—a critical step as algorithms increasingly shape hiring and healthcare.

Climate Justice: A Gendered Crisis

Environmental degradation disproportionately affects women, who comprise 80% of climate refugees. In Bangladesh, cyclones displace 700,000 annually, with women facing heightened risks of trafficking post-disaster. Yet female leaders pioneer solutions. Kenya’s Wangari Maathai, Nobel laureate and founder of the Green Belt Movement, planted over 50 million trees through grassroots networks. Her legacy inspires groups like Colombia’s Canto a la Vida, which trains Indigenous women in sustainable agriculture.

Policy frameworks slowly integrate gender lenses. At COP28 in 2023, the first-ever Gender-Responsive Just Transitions roadmap allocated £2.5 billion to projects led by women in renewable energy. Meanwhile, Iceland’s 2024 carbon tax reinvests 10% into retraining programmes for women in fossil fuel sectors—a model praised by the International Energy Agency.

Healthcare Equity: Bridging the Gap

Maternal mortality remains a stark indicator of inequality. In Nigeria, 1 in 22 women dies during childbirth, compared to 1 in 5,000 in Sweden. The 2023 Lancet report attributes 90% of these deaths to preventable causes like haemorrhage and sepsis. Initiatives like Ethiopia’s Health Extension Worker programme, deploying 40,000 female community health workers since 2003, have halved maternal deaths in rural areas.

Mental health also demands attention. The UK’s 2024 Women’s Health Strategy prioritises conditions like endometriosis, which takes 8 years to diagnose on average. Australia’s Gidget Foundation, supporting perinatal mental health, reports that 1 in 5 mothers experience anxiety—yet 30% conceal symptoms due to stigma.

Political Power: From Representation to Influence

While female heads of state like New Zealand’s Jacinda Ardern and Estonia’s Kaja Kallas redefine leadership, structural barriers persist. Only 15 countries have cabinets with 50% or more women, and just 26% of peace negotiations include female delegates. Rwanda’s post-genocide constitution, reserving 30% of parliamentary seats for women, demonstrates how quotas drive change. By 2024, women held 61% of lower-house seats—the highest globally.

Local governance also transforms communities. In India’s Kerala state, 55% of panchayat (village council) leaders are women, prioritising sanitation and education. Brazil’s Marias da Penha movement, named after a domestic violence survivor, elected 12,000 women to municipal roles in 2022, pushing through 200+ bills on gender-based violence.

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Economic Resilience: Beyond the Wage Gap

The gender pay gap—15% globally—only scratches the surface. Women dominate informal sectors, with 740 million working without contracts or social security. The 2023 Care Economy report values unpaid domestic labour at £8.3 trillion annually, equivalent to 9% of global GDP. Uruguay’s 2022 National Care System law, guaranteeing free childcare and elder care, aims to redistribute this burden.

Entrepreneurship offers pathways. Ghana’s Shea Butter Initiative, co-founded by social entrepreneur Abena Offeh-Gyimah, connects 10,000 rural women to international markets. In Scotland, the Women’s Enterprise Framework targets £13 billion in economic growth by 2030 through female-led startups.

Education’s Unfinished Revolution

Despite progress, 129 million girls remain out of school. Malala Yousafzai’s 2024 Education for All summit secured £1.7 billion in pledges, focusing on conflict zones like South Sudan. In Afghanistan, underground “living room schools” run by RAWA (Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan) educate 6,000 girls annually, defying Taliban edicts.

Higher education sees gender parity in enrolment, yet subject biases linger. Just 3% of female students globally pursue ICT degrees, perpetuating tech’s gender gap. Initiatives like Google’ Women Techmakers and Nigeria’s She Code Africa mentor 500,000 women annually in coding and robotics.

Cultural Narratives: Rewriting the Script

Media representation shapes perceptions. The 2024 Geena Davis Institute report found that films with female leads earn 15% more globally, yet only 33% of speaking roles go to women. Kenya’s Sauti Sol all-female film academy trains directors to challenge stereotypes, while the BBC’s 50:50 Project ensures equal on-air representation.

Literature also shifts paradigms. Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s We Should All Be Feminists sold 1 million copies, sparking Sweden’s 2023 decision to distribute it to every 16-year-old. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia’s first female-authored graphic novel, Ms. Marvel: New Mutant by Saladin Ahmed and Ms. Assia, explores identity in a changing society.

Solidarity Across Generations

Intergenerational dialogue fuels sustained progress. Veterans like Gloria Steinem, 90, mentor Gen Z activists like Marley Dias, whose #1000BlackGirlBooks campaign has donated 13,000 books worldwide. In Japan, 75-year-old journalist Shiori Ito’s landmark 2023 court victory against sexual assault inspired younger survivors to speak out, doubling reported cases in six months.

Youth-led movements innovate tactics. Uganda’s Fridays for Future climate strikers, led by 19-year-old Leah Namugerwa, integrate gender justice into environmental demands. Similarly, Chile’s Las Tesis collective, famous for A Rapist in Your Path, uses performance art to protest femicide, with 2024 rallies spanning 50 cities.

Conclusion: The Unending Journey

International Women’s Day, rooted in centuries of struggle, remains both a mirror and a compass. It reflects hard-won victories—from suffrage to #MeToo—while guiding future action. Data from the World Economic Forum’s 2024 Global Gender Gap Report warns that progress has slowed, with full parity now estimated at 131 years. Yet grassroots energy defies pessimism.

The day’s true power lies in its universality. From Rojava’s women-led communes in Syria to Brazil’s Marielle Franco institutes training Black candidates, localised efforts forge global ripples. As UN Women’s 2025 Generation Equality forum convenes, the call echoes: equality isn’t a milestone but a continuum.

To honour the day means more than annual gestures. It demands daily commitment—challenging biases, amplifying silenced voices, and redefining power. For as long as a single girl is denied education, a woman paid less for equal work, or a survivor denied justice, the march continues. The torch lit by suffragists now burns brighter, carried by generations who refuse to accept “almost equal” as enough.