Gender Equality Month is celebrated every year in March. The whole month is dedicated to celebrating the social, political, cultural, and academic achievements of women in the world. March is also important to raise awareness against gender bias in society. Did you know that, according to United Nations Development Programme, almost 90% of men and women hold some kind of bias against women? This month is dedicated to eradicating those biases and teaching people the indispensable role of women in society.
History of Gender Equality Month
On July 13, 1848, the women’s rights movement began. Elizabeth Cady Stanton invited some of her friends for tea, and their talk turned toward the despondent situation of women and their lack of freedom. They decided to start a convention to discuss the condition of women and made a small announcement in the Seneca County Courier, where they called a convention to discuss the conditions of women.
They drafted the “Declaration of Sentiments,” where they connected the campaign for women’s rights to the American symbol of liberty. They declared carefully the areas in which women were treated unjustly. They quickly received backlash. Newspaper editors attacked women for their obnoxious demands and ridiculed them.
The widespread coverage of the movement, even though just to ridicule it, started gaining momentum. People started noticing their agitation and joined the movement. The struggle took a 72-year campaign, but they eventually won the basic American right — the right to vote.
After the right to vote was won in 1920, the women’s rights movement continued in several directions. Margaret Sanger advocated for a woman’s right to control her body and reproductive and sexual health. She endorsed birth control and provided education to women about the practice. After a long struggle, in 1923, Supreme Court declassified birth control information as obscene.
Gender Equality Month timeline
Agnodice courageously practices medicine in Greece when women face the death penalty for doing so.
Kate Sheppard petitions and makes New Zealand the first self-governing country to grant voting rights to women.
Rigoberta Menchu, the first indigenous person to win a Nobel Peace Prize, campaigns for social justice and indigenous persons' rights.
Billie Jean King threatens to boycott the U.S. Open unless women are given equal prize money as men.
Gender Equality Month FAQs
What is the theme of Women’s Day 2022?
“Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow” is the theme for 2022.
Why do we celebrate Women’s Month?
We celebrate women’s contributions to the betterment of society.
Who declared Women’s Day?
The United Nations celebrated Women’s Day in 1975, and in 1977, March 8 was declared Women’s Day.
Gender Equality Month Activities
Appreciate the women in your life
Appreciate the achievements of women and the hard work they put in to achieve them. Against all odds and against rapid discrimination in society, women continue to succeed.
Educate people against gender bias
Gender bias is a prevalent issue in society, and people tend to associate it with small things in life. Unlearn the gender bias, and teach people to do so too.
Read up about the equality struggle
Learn the vast and intricate history of the struggle for equality. Read up about the long sacrifices and struggles of marginalized groups.
5 Interesting Facts About Gender Equality
Gender equality is linked to G.D.P.
According to a 2015 “Mckinsey Global Institute” report, global economic potential increases when the gender gap is narrowed.
Harassment and exercising outdoors
According to the “Runners World” poll, 58% of women under the age of 30 get harassed while running outdoors, but men do not get harassed.
Education after high school
For every hundred boys who continue education after high school, only 55 girls do the same in low-income countries.
Unpaid work gets piled up
Women, on average, spend twice as much time as men doing unpaid work.
Women bear the brunt of childcare
Women take care of most childcare duties; yet, if men take on at least 40% of childcare duties, they remain at a lower risk of depression and drug abuse.
Why We Love Gender Equality Month
It celebrates women
It is a month to celebrate women and their achievements. It celebrates their willpower and strength to demand justice and equality.
It mitigates gender bias
This month brings to light how we practice gender bias. It educates people and tries to mitigate prevalent gender bias in society.
It calls for equality
Gender Equality Month advocates for equality in the way we see and treat women. It is high time we treat women as humans, and this holiday seeks to accentuate this point.
Gender Equality Month dates