Today is International Women's Day

International Women's Day, March 8, is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity.

International Women's Day has occurred for more than a century, with the first IWD gathering in 1911 supported by over a million people in Austria, Denmark, Germany, and Switzerland. Prior to this the Socialist Party of America, United Kingdom’s suffragettes, America’s suffragists, and other groups campaigned for women’s equality.

This year’s theme is Balance for Better. The IWD website explains the theme this way:

Balance is not a women's issue, it's a business issue. The race is on for the gender-balanced boardroom, a gender-balanced government, gender-balanced media coverage, a gender-balance of employees, more gender-balance in wealth, gender-balanced sports coverage ... Gender balance is essential for economies and communities to thrive.

I’ve enjoyed watching the videos on the International Women’s Day website and on YouTube.

It’s hopeful to see women talking positively about their lives and expectations. I just hope women can continue to make progress in the United States and throughout the world on issues of equity. It was so demoralizing when I was growing up to be the youngest of three daughters and be told by an uncle that I didn’t need to go to college to write a grocery list.

I showed him. I have four college degrees and am a successful journalist, editor, and teacher. I’ve also enjoyed working as a land-use planner.