SUNY Empire Library News & Alerts

Women's History Month & International Women's Day

Women’s History Month was thought to have roots extending as far back as 1857, when garment workers in New York City protested inhumane working conditions, low wages, and long hours. A New York City garment worker strike took place on the 50th anniversary of the first protest, in 1907, and this led to the idea of a Women's Day (Time, 2018). 

Research that emerged in the 1980s, however, suggested that this origin story came into being in the Cold-War 1950s in order to separate International Women’s Day from its socialist roots. In 1909, the first official National Woman’s Day was held in New York City on February 28, 1909, organized by members of the Socialist Party of America. Years later in Russia, a massive demonstration led by feminist Alexandra Kollontai began on February 23, 1917 (according to Russia’s Gregorian calendar; it was March 8 in the West). In recognition of its importance, Vladimir Lenin, founder of Russia’s Communist Party, declared Woman’s Day an official Soviet holiday in 1917. Communists in Spain and China later adopted the holiday as well. Until the mid-1970s, International Women’s Day would be celebrated primarily in socialist countries (History.com, 2021). 

In the 1970s in the U.S., feminist activists took issue with how the history books largely left out the story or contributions of women in America, and began working on revised school curriculums in Sonoma County California (Time, 2018). In 1975, recognized as International Women’s Year, the United Nations General Assembly began celebrating March 8 as International Women’s Day. In 1980, Jimmy Carter recognized National Women’s History Week as March 2-8 in an address to the nation. Congress declared March as National Women’s History Month in perpetuity, in 1987 (National Women’s History Alliance, 2021). 

Given the recency of so many hard-earned rights for women—to the vote, to own property, to divorce a spouse, to claim financial independence—and still-precarious protections—from violence, from harassment, for equal pay, for bodily autonomy--it is well worth remembering all those who spoke out, fought, and died championing those causes.  

The librarians have curated the Women’s History Month subject guide (also at the Other Guides menu on the library home page) to aid you in that endeavor. There is so much more to women’s history than is represented in standard history books. In the spirit of this year’s Women’s History Month theme, “Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion,” we welcome you to explore that more complete and complex history found in our collections.

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History.com. (2021, February 19 ). The surprising history of International Women’s Day. https://www.history.com/news/the-surprising-history-of-international-womens-day 

National Women’s History Alliance. (2021) National Women’s History Month. https://nationalwomenshistoryalliance.org/  

Time. (2018, March 1) This is how March became Women’s History Month.  

https://time.com/4238999/womens-history-month-history/