The pioneers who paved the way
Olympe de Gouges (1748-1793)
Author of the Declaration of the Rights of Woman and of the Female Citizen in 1791, she was the first to demand legal equality between men and women. She was guillotined in 1793, partly for her writings.
Marie Curie (1867-1934)
The first woman to receive a Nobel Prize (Physics, 1903), then a second one (Chemistry, 1911). She remains to this day the only person to have won Nobel Prizes in two different scientific disciplines.
Simone de Beauvoir (1908-1986)
Her essay The Second Sex (1949) laid the theoretical foundations of modern feminism with her famous phrase: "One is not born, but rather becomes, a woman." The work influenced generations of activists worldwide.
Valentina Tereshkova (born 1937)
In 1963, she became the first woman to travel to space aboard Vostok 6. It would take 19 years before another woman returned to space.
Malala Yousafzai (born 1997)
Surviving an assassination attempt by the Taliban in 2012 for defending girls' right to education, she received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014, becoming its youngest-ever laureate.
Where do we stand today? The numbers that challenge us
While considerable progress has been made, inequalities persist globally:
- Women represent around 50% of people living in extreme poverty, though female-headed households are overrepresented among the poor (World Bank, 2018)
- Globally, the female labor force participation rate stands at around 47%, compared with roughly 72% for men (ILO estimates, 2024)
- Only 27% of parliamentary seats worldwide are held by women (2024)
- The average gender pay gap remains about 16% globally
- The #MeToo movement, born in the United States in 2017, unleashed a global reckoning on sexual violence and harassment
These statistics remind us why March 8 is not a party, but a call to action: the fight for equality is far from over.
Did you know?
Some lesser-known facts about this day and women's rights history:
- Purple, green and white are the historical colors of Women's Day, inherited from the British suffragette movement
- In Italy, March 8 is associated with mimosa flowers, traditionally given to women by men
- Russia and many former Soviet countries consider March 8 an official public holiday
- In China, many companies grant women a half-day off on March 8
- The term "rights of Man" in its universal sense long served to render women's specific demands invisible, which is why we now speak of "human rights"
Go further
If this topic fascinates you, also discover our quizzes on great female figures and famous quotes:
Play the exceptional women quiz
March 8 Around the World Today
While March 8 is a date observed in over a hundred countries, its meaning varies radically from one culture to another.
In the United States
The entire month of March has been designated Women's History Month since 1987. March 8 is observed but fits within a broader commemoration of women's contributions to American history.
In France
Since 1982, March 8 has been officially recognized as National Women's Rights Day. It is an occasion for demonstrations, conferences and awareness campaigns. The government and feminist associations organize public statements, but the day is not a public holiday.
In Italy
The Festa della Donna is primarily a social celebration. Men traditionally offer mimosas to women, colleagues, friends, mothers, partners. The yellow flower has been the national symbol of the day since 1946.
March 8 is an official public holiday, celebrated as a day to give flowers and gifts to women. The activist dimension was gradually erased by the Soviet regime in favor of a celebration of "femininity."
In China
Women officially get a half-day off on March 8. Shopping centers multiply promotions, turning the day into a consumerist event, a co-opting regularly criticized by activists.
In Afghanistan, Iran, Saudi Arabia
In several countries where women's rights remain seriously threatened, March 8 takes on a dimension of silent resistance. Demonstrations are often banned or repressed. The date becomes a symbol for activists in exile and their international allies.
Violence Against Women: The Chilling Numbers
Behind the celebrations lies a difficult reality. Gender-based violence remains one of the most widespread human rights violations in the world.
- One in three women worldwide has experienced physical or sexual violence in her lifetime (WHO)
- In 2023, 51,100 women and girls were killed by their partner or a family member, or 140 victims per day (UN Women)
- More than 640 million women alive today were married before age 18
- In France, around 122 women are victims of femicide every year, one every three days
- One girl in four worldwide has not attended secondary school
- Street harassment affects between 80 and 100% of women depending on the country, a figure that has barely moved in 30 years
These statistics remind us that the fight for women's rights is not only fought in parliaments: it is also fought in homes, in the streets and in schools.
How to Take Daily Action
March 8 is not just a symbol. It is a starting point for action, all year round.
- Stay informed: read, listen, follow activists and researchers who decode these issues
- Financially support a local organization (Solidarité Femmes, women's shelters, advocacy foundations)
- Speak up when you are a victim or witness of sexist violence
- Spot bias in language, media, school textbooks
- Vote for candidates who carry concrete commitments to equality
- Discuss with loved ones, sometimes the hardest battle is the one fought at the family dinner table
FAQ, Frequently Asked Questions
Why is it called International Women's Day, not Women's Day?
The official UN expression is "International Women's Day" since 1977. The "rights" framing emphasizes that the day is not a commercial celebration but a day of political and social demand.
Why is the mimosa associated with March 8?
In 1946, Italian women activists from the Communist Party were looking for a flower abundant in March, inexpensive and local to symbolize the day. Mimosa, which blooms precisely at this time, naturally became the symbol.
Is there an International Men's Day?
Yes, November 19 is International Men's Day, created in 1999. It addresses topics such as men's health, fatherhood and suicide prevention. It receives much less media attention.
Why is purple the color of feminists?
Purple was adopted by British suffragettes in 1908: it symbolized dignity and justice. Combined with green (hope) and white (purity of ideals), it forms the historic triptych of the feminist movement.
Is March 8 really effective at advancing rights?
International days don't change laws on their own. But they make issues visible, mobilize media, unite activists and create political moments. Their effectiveness depends on what we do with them the rest of the year.
A living legacy
From Clara Zetkin to the workers of Petrograd, from Simone de Beauvoir to Malala Yousafzai, International Women's Day carries the legacy of a century of struggle. Every advance was achieved through the courage of women, and men, who refused injustice.
March 8 is not a day for flowers. It is a day to remember, to learn, and to act. And the best way to start is to know the history.
