"Don’t think about making women fit the world — think about making the world fit women.” — Gloria Steinem
On March 8th, International Women’s Day was celebrated, a day in which women’s fight for equality and liberation is commemorated, focusing on gender equality, reproductive rights, and violence and abuse against women. We honor the efforts that have been made for women in the present day and the ongoing work needed to create a more equitable and just world, particularly for women and girls.
The first celebration of International Women’s Day dates back to March 19, 1911. More than one million individuals in Austria, Denmark, Germany, and Switzerland came together to celebrate this occasion, demanding women's rights to vote, fight discrimination, and hold public office. It was then in 1913 that International Women’s Day was adopted in Russia, where it became a factor leading to the Russian Revolution, with women striking and demanding the end of the First World War in St. Petersburg. A strike to end a devastating war resulted in Russian women being given the right to vote and made March 8 a non-working holiday.
Today, women in various parts of the world are still fighting for those same rights.
Demand for women’s rights did not diminish, it only grew exponentially with women around the world protesting for equal rights, equal pay, and opportunities. In 1922, International Women’s Day spread to China, and finally, in 1975, it was recognized by the United Nations. From then on, Women’s Day has been celebrated every year on March 8th.
This year marks the 114th anniversary of International Women’s Day. It is only right that light be shone onto the inventions and discoveries made by women that were mistakenly attributed to men. Unknowingly, some of our most used items were invented or discovered by women. For instance, the internet was developed by Radia Perlman along with Elizabeth Feinler. Furthermore, a significant contribution to science is the connection of chromosomes to determining the sex of an embryo.
Biology is one of the most important subjects that help scientists understand human beings. A chromosome is a DNA molecule that contains the genetic information of an organism. It is quite literally the building block of life. In many scholarly textbooks, the discovery of the role of chromosomes in determining the sex of an embryo has been attributed to Thomas Hunt Morgan. However, the truth is that Nettie Stevens, an American geneticist, was the first to make this connection. This was a result of gender bias and sexism in the scientific community at the time. Stevens’ work, like that of many women, went uncredited and undervalued simply because they were women. Without Nettie Stevens, we would not be able to provide vital evidence linking genetics to the sex of an embryo.
In light of recent events, the world must acknowledge its flaws, but most importantly, it must acknowledge its duty to women and girls worldwide. The threats that women and girls face, unfortunately, grow at a worrying pace. For instance, in Afghanistan, women's rights are being disregarded by the Taliban. Afghan women are prevented from exercising basic rights, including freedom of expression, liberty, work, and even education. While the whole world is gravitating towards a modern and equal world, women in these situations are unable to resonate with that statement. Their rights have been taken away from them. Their rights are almost nonexistent. Gender should not be a qualifying factor when conversing and making rules about an individual’s body. Whether in the free world or conflict situations, women’s rights are being threatened, undermined, and attacked relentlessly.
We must raise awareness for women and girls whose voices are silenced. Only with global help can women’s rights be ensured and implemented. International Women’s Day not only celebrates past successes but it is also a critical reminder of the problems in the world that need immediate and lasting change. Women are the pillars of society, women have the power to change the world and empower themselves and others. There is nothing that women cannot do; they are only being restricted by society.
If you are a woman reading this, I sincerely hope that you are aware of the rights you possess and your capabilities. Do not be let down by society and what it says. Do not let misogynistic ideals pull you down or stop you from achieving your goals. And if you are a man reading this, I hope you use our annual celebration to remind yourself that you, too, play a role in ensuring a better world for women: for your mother, your sister, your relatives, and your friends.
FUN FACT: Did you know that “Monopoly” was invented by Elizabeth Magie but was taken credit for by Charles Darrow?Read more: Monopoly’s Lost Female Inventor
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Featured Photo: https://images.app.goo.gl/dNjMGL1nAVs1XMz49One in four countries report backlash on women’s rights in 2024 | UN Women – Headquarters. (2025, March 6). UN Women – Headquarters. https://www.unwomen.org/en/news-stories/press-release/2025/03/one-in-four-countries-report-backlash-on-womens-rights-in-2024About – InternationalWomensDay.org. (n.d.). https://www.internationalwomensday.org/history-of-international-womens-day/Afghanistan. (n.d.). https://medicamondiale.org/en/where-we-empower-women/afghanistan Serohina, K. (2024, March 8). Women’s inventions and discoveries mistakenly attributed to men. RBC-Ukraine. https://newsukraine.rbc.ua/analytics/women-s-inventions-and-discoveries-mistakenly-1709857744.html