While every day feels like International Women’s Day at marie claire, March 8 is officially recognised as IWD across the globe.
The day is a celebration of the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women and a call-to-action to progress gender parity.
So prep your Beyoncé playlist and read everything you need to know ahead of International Women’s Day below.
What is this year’s International Women’s Day theme?
This year’s campaign theme #PressforProgress shines a spotlight on gender parity, with an emphasis on gender inclusivity and new gender parity initiatives.
The theme offers an important reminder that we are over 200 years away from gender parity according to the World Economic Forum’s 2017 Global Gender Gap Report.
“Now, more than ever, there’s a strong call-to-action to press forward and progress gender parity. A strong call to #PressforProgress. A strong call to motivate and unite friends, colleagues and whole communities to think, act and be gender inclusive,” the IWD website encourages.
“So together, let’s all be tenacious in accelerating gender parity. Collectively, let’s all Press for Progress.”
What is the official colour of International Women’s Day?
Purple is a colour we associate with lavender flowers, Panatone’s 2018 colour of the year and that iconic Oprah Winfrey/Whoopi Goldberg movie. But along with green and white, it’s a colour linked to the feminist movement dating back to the Women’s Social and Political Union in the UK in 1908.
The official colour for International Women’s Day is purple — so wear a purple shirt, ribbon or be that annoying work colleague and write all of you emails in purple font.
When was International Women’s Day first celebrated?
The first ever IWD event was held in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland on March 19, with more than one million women and men campaigning for women’s rights to work, vote, be trained, hold public office and end discrimination.
How can I get involved?
There will be a host of activities— from festivals to exhibitions and even digital gatherings—held across Australia and the globe this IWD. Visit the International Women’s Day event page see the full list of activities near you.
marie claire is also again taking part in the Virgin Australia Melbourne Fashion Festival with two incredible sold-out events in Melbourne. The annual International Women’s Day forum on March 8 includes an impressive line-up of speakers including Big Little Lies author Liane Moriarty. In the evening, the 2018 Virgin Australia Grand Showcase will celebrate 20 years of Fashion Targets Breast Cancer and features Ginger & Smart’s A/W18 collection. Visit VAMFF.COM.AU.
For those in Sydney, Palace Central is holding a special screening of Mary Magdelene for International Women’s Day. Grab tickets here.
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