Happy Women’s Day 2023!
8th of March 2023 is Women’s Day in Kazakhstan. Time to have a look how this holiday came to Kazakhstan.
International Women’s Day is an annual holiday celebrated on 8th of March that is dedicated to honoring the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women around the world. The origins of International Women’s Day can be traced back to the early 1900s when women in various countries began to organize and demand better working conditions, suffrage, and other political and social rights.
The idea for International Women’s Day originated with Clara Zetkin, a German Marxist, feminist, and socialist activist. In 1910, Zetkin proposed the idea of an International Women’s Day at the Socialist Second International in Copenhagen, Denmark. The goal was to create a day that would recognize and celebrate the social, economic, and political achievements of women, and to promote gender equality and women’s rights.
Just one year later the International Women’s Day was celebrated on 19th of March 19th 1911, in Austria, Denmark, Germany, and Switzerland for the first time.
The idea of International Women’s Day gained momentum and was widely celebrated by socialist and communist movements in Europe in the years leading up to 1st World War. In 1917, Russian women organized a strike for Bread & Peace to protest against the high cost of living, 1st World War, and the Tsarists government. This strike was a precursor to the Russian Revolution and led to the granting of women’s suffrage in Russia.
Following the Russian Revolution, International Women’s Day became an official holiday in the Soviet Union, where it was widely promoted as an occasion to recognize women’s contributions to society. The holiday was also celebrated in other socialist and communist countries, including Soviet Republic Kazakhstan.
During the Soviet era, the Kazakhstani government made significant strides in promoting women’s rights, including equal pay and access to education and healthcare. However, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the economic and social conditions in Kazakhstan deteriorated, and gender inequality became more prevalent.
Today, the celebration of International Women’s Day in Kazakhstan remains an important occasion to recognize women’s contributions and to advocate for gender equality. The holiday is celebrated with various cultural and social events, including concerts, exhibitions, and conferences.
While International Women’s Day originated in Europe and was adopted by socialist and communist movements, it has since become a global celebration of women’s achievements and a call to action for gender equality. In the Kazakhstan of 2023, International Women’s Day serves as a reminder of the ongoing struggle for women’s rights and the importance of continued advocacy and activism to achieve gender equality.
We wish all women and girls a happy International Women’s Day 2023!
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