Not just another day... It's a Female Celebration!
Just another day some will say. While we too agree that is just another day. It’s also a day we set aside as International Women’s Day. While we celebrate women throughout the year with various promoted holidays, here’s why today is important and why you should know about it.
Our founding mothers took it among themselves over a century to fight for equal rights. Because of them, most of us get to live a better life. All women wanted was equal pay and have the same rights as men: economically, politically and socially. In the 1900’s, women just like you began fighting for voting rights and equal pay.
March 8th is used not only to honor advancements made and celebrate our achievements, but to remember that there is still work to be done.
Though it goes back to 1908, the first ever International Women’s Day was organized by women’s right activist Clara Zetkin in 1911.
While we’ve come a long way, let us not forget that as a minority together we are more powerful. Support one another in your everyday life, at work, at school… Be a force and live up to what these iconic women fought for. Here's a look at the women's progress from 1908 to present (adapted from International Women's Day site).
15,000 women marched through New York City demanding shorter hours, better pay and voting rights.
The first National Woman's Day (NWD) was observed across the United States on 28 February. Women continued to celebrate NWD on the last Sunday of February until 1913.
In 1910 a second International Conference of Working Women was held in Copenhagen. Clara Zetkin (Leader of the 'Women's Office' for the Social Democratic Party in Germany) tabled the idea of an International Women's Day. She proposed that every year in every country there should be a celebration on the same day - a Women's Day - to press for their demands.
IWD was honoured the first time in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland on 19 March. More than one million women and men attended IWD rallies campaigning for women's rights to work, vote, be trained, to hold public office and end discrimination. However less than a week later on 25 March, the tragic 'Triangle Fire' in New York City took the lives of more than 140 working women, most of them Italian and Jewish immigrants. This disastrous event drew significant attention to working conditions and labour legislation in the United States that became a focus of subsequent International Women's Day events.
On the eve of World War I campaigning for peace, Russian women observed their first International Women's Day on the last Sunday in February 1913. In 1913 following discussions, International Women's Day was transferred to 8 March and this day has remained the global date for International Women's Day ever since.
On the last Sunday of February, Russian women began a strike for "bread and peace" in response to the death of over 2 million Russian soldiers in World War 1. Opposed by political leaders, the women continued to strike until four days later the Czar was forced to abdicate and the provisional Government granted women the right to vote. The date the women's strike commenced was Sunday 23 February on the Julian calendar then in use in Russia. This day on the Gregorian calendar in use elsewhere was 8 March.
International Women's Day was celebrated for the first time by the United Nations in 1975.
By the new millennium, International Women's Day activity around the world had stalled in many countries. The world had moved on and feminism wasn't a popular topic. International Women's Day needed re-ignition.
The global internationalwomensday.com digital hub for everything IWD was launched to re-energize the day as an important platform to celebrate the successful achievements of women and to continue calls for accelerating gender parity.
2011 saw the 100 year centenary of International Women's Day - with the first IWD event held exactly 100 years ago in 1911 in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland. In the United States, President Barack Obama proclaimed March 2011 to be "Women's History Month", calling Americans to mark IWD by reflecting on "the extraordinary accomplishments of women" in shaping the country's history.
The then Secretary of State Hillary Clinton launched the "100 Women Initiative: Empowering Women and Girls through International Exchanges".
In the United Kingdom, celebrity activist Annie Lennox lead a superb march across one of London's iconic bridges raising awareness in support for global charity Women for Women International. Further charities such as Oxfam have run extensive activity supporting IWD and many celebrities and business leaders also actively support the day
The world has witnessed a significant change and attitudinal shift in both women's and society's thoughts about women's equality and emancipation.
International Women’s Day or IWD is an official holiday in many countries, like Afghanistan, Armenia, Cambodia, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Vietnam, Russia, and many more.
Read more on International Women’s Day and get acquainted with your female history.
Continue to support your leaders fight for chance, vote! Together we can continue to make great changes and improvements. Not just as women or minorities, but as a society. Together.
If so, here are some of the best ways to revive and rejuvenate your skin for spring.
Take a look at your lifestyle
If you feel stressed, try out some coping techniques, such as breathing exercises, yoga and meditation. Attempt to establish a sleep routine and take steps to improve the quality of your sleep. Get to bed at the same time each night, block out light and noise and avoid checking emails or making phone calls in bed. Turn your bedroom into a peaceful, comfortable haven and aim for around 6-8 hours of sleep per night.
Ask the experts
If you’re looking for noticeable results quickly, it’s advisable to seek advice from skincare and beauty experts, like Dr Leah. Modern anti-ageing treatments can transform the appearance of the skin in just a few weeks. Not only will your skin look younger, but you’ll also feel much more confident.
Facial rejuvenation treatments
Here are some examples of fantastic facial treatments, which are designed to make your complexion look more youthful.
If you’re dreaming of beautifully smooth skin this spring/summer, now is the time to take steps to achieving your beauty goals. Adopt some self-help techniques and treat yourself to a pampering session.
If you’re eager to investigate innovative facial treatments, why not book a consultation and find out more?
by Iconic Chica Contributors
If you’re searching for inspiration, these five innovative and quirky ideas may be just what you’ve been looking for!
If you love to travel, a spontaneous break is a fantastic option. Think about incredible experiences you’ve shared and conjure up those memories. choose a place, which means the world to both of you or plan a trip somewhere you’ve always wanted to visit. You don’t have to jet off to an exotic island retreat or reenact a round-the-world adventure to make your proposal special. Organising a trip to your favourite hotel or the location of your first holiday together is sure to show off your thoughtful side.
2. The hidden message
For fun-loving, adventurous types, nothing beats a mysterious treasure hunt. Choose a location, which means something to both of you and set up a series of clues to lead your partner to the final surprise: the ring! Try to tie in memories and experiences in the clues and film the journey so that you can watch the reaction over and over again. Be as creative as you like and most importantly, have fun.
3. The modern proposal
We live in an age dominated by multimedia communication and what better way to propose a modern marriage than with a video message? With VideoGram’s range of video giftcards, you can personalise your greetings card and include a heartfelt film. This is a perfect way to propose for couples that enjoy surfing online, gaming or blogging. This budget-friendly option is also a thoughtful gesture for those who struggle to express themselves on the spot.
4. The grand gesture
If you’re a romantic and you want something spectacular, why not go for a fireworks display, a beach-based candle fest or a floral bonanza? Spell out your message with flowers, illuminations or sky writing and ensure that your love enjoys a moment they’ll never forget. Some people prefer a private moment while others like to have special friends and family around. Think about what your partner would like and be creative. Call in favours from friends and relatives to help ensure your plans go smoothly and make sure everything remains a secret! Once they’ve said yes, get ready to party the night away!
5. The simple-but-effective option
For no-frills couples who prefer a hassle-free life, there’s no point in going crazy. Avoid spending loads of money and putting a reluctant partner in the spotlight. Sometimes, the simplest proposals are the most romantic. Run a bath, cook a meal or write a note. Let your proposal showcase your personality and the special bond you enjoy with your future fiance.
Proposals should be personal and thoughtful. These ideas will help you create an unforgettable experience, which sets you up for a long and happy life together.
Try some of these tips to make the planning easier.
Working within Your Budget
Everyone has a wedding budget to work with, although some have a larger one than others. Sticking to your budget can be difficult when you have a long list of things you want to do. The first thing that can help you is separating what you want and what you need. They aren't always the same thing. In fact, they're very rarely the same thing. Many of your wants aren't things you desperately need. Think about the size of your guest list first of all. Once you know a rough number, you know how many people you need to accommodate and provide food and drink for.
Don't Feel Rushed
When you get engaged, you might feel like you have to get married as soon as possible. But many couples today spend years being engaged before they tie the knot. There's no need to rush into everything and have the shortest engagement possible. That's not to say that you can't start planning straight away. Give yourself lots of time to sort everything out. If you have two years to plan your wedding, you're sure to have everything the way you want it before the big day arrives. Just don't allow yourself to procrastinate for too long either.
Your wedding only lasts for a day, and your marriage is going to last for much longer. So try to think about creating memories of the day that you can look back on later. Think about creating some special moments that you can treasure forever. You'll probably want to consider a few different ways to capture the day too. For example, most couples hire a photographer and perhaps a videographer too. Check out Lesley Meredith wedding photography to see how professional photos can preserve your special day. Consider how you want to remember everything in years to come.
Don't Do It All Alone
No one should plan a wedding alone. For one thing, there's another person whose big day it is too. Let them help, or encourage them to help if they're less than enthusiastic. They should have at least a few opinions about the arrangements. Ask
Remember that your perfect wedding can be whatever you want it to be. Don't try to shape it into something that's not you.
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