International Women’s Day 2024 Events galore
Marked annually on March 8th International Women’s Day (IWD) is one of the most important days of the year to: celebrate women’s achievements; educate and raise awareness raise about women’s equality; call for positive change advancing women: lobby for accelerated gender parity; fundraise for women-focused charities. The 2024 theme is Inspire Inclusion.
When we inspire others to understand and value women’s inclusion, we forge a better world. And when women themselves are inspired to be included, there’s a sense of belonging, relevance and empowerment.
Events in the Shoalhaven
Public events on International Women’s Day have been held in the Shoalhaven since the 1990’s. This year the tradition continues with a suite of events throughout March. Find a list below and click here to go to Shoalhaven IWD website for full information about each event.
Saturday 02 March
Writers’ Afternoon
2-4pm / Nowra Library
An opportunity for women to gather in a warm supportive environment to read their work, and to listen. Light refreshments provided.
Trivia Night
6 – 9pm / Dunn Lewis Centre, Ulladulla
A fun night out with friends and wear purple! BYO drinks and nibbles. Tea and Coffee provided.
Collection of small baskets by international fibre artist, Lissa de Sailles
Sunday 03 March
Weaving Stories
1-4pm / Lyrebird Park, Nowra
Work with international fibre artist, Lissa de Sailles, to stitch a small sculptural basket from raffia and found objects; weaving a story.
Saturday 09 March
Women Performing
7-10pm / Huskisson Community Centre
A concert of diverse performances – – music, song, poetry – in the company of supportive women.
Sunday 10 March
Bushwalk
9.30am / Mount Bushwalker Trail, Peters Creek
An easy to medium walk of 7kms return.
Saturday 16 March
Women’s Dance
7pm / Tomerong Hall
Join well-known women’s band Which Witch to dance the night away!
Wednesday 20 March
Meditation
6pm / Hanging Rock, Nowra Showgrounds
Take in the breath taking view and surrounding nature with meditation guided by Colleen Langan.
Colleen Langan leading meditation session at Hanging Rock, Nowra
History of IWD
On March 8 1908, thousands of women in the needle trades in New York spilled onto the streets. They demanded the vote, and an end to sweatshops and child labour. Their action also recognised pickets, held fifty-one years previously, when garment workers had called for improved working conditions, a ten hour day and equal rights for women. The 1908 march happened at a time when women around the world, the so-called first wave feminists, were galvanising, particularly for the right to vote.
The worldwide socialist movement recognised the fairness of women’s demands. In 1910, at a socialist congress called the Second International, Clara Zetkin proposed that March 8 be annually marked as International Women’s Day. Zetkin was a well-known German revolutionary – a woman the Kaiser called “the most dangerous sorceress in the empire”.
In Australia the first International Women’s Day of action was on March 8 1928. Back then women gathered in the Domain in Sydney. Linked as it was to the fate of socialists, International Women’s Day lost widespread public relevance in the 1950s as the Cold War deepened.
It was rediscovered by a new generation of educated women from both the middle and the working class. After the Second World War they were either excluded from employment or forced to work for less pay and worse conditions than men. Many of these women opposed the Vietnam War and were immediately confronted by the inbuilt prejudice of the men alongside. There was an explosion of writing about the economic, social, political and emotional effects on women of male domination.
The Women’s Liberation Movement was born. Women formed Consciousness Raising groups where they talked about what was happening in their lives. The traditions of the socialist movement crossed over with the new generation. On March 8, 1972, in capital cities across Australia, tens of thousands of women marched. Their banners called for Free 24 hour Child-care Centres; Freely Available Safe Contraceptives: Legalisation of Abortion: Equal Pay for Equal Work.
Since then, International Women’s Day has retained its demands of protest while expanding into a celebration of women’s achievements and lives. Whether in agitation or celebration, whether at a concert, dance, dinner, breakfast, award ceremony, march, lunch, picnic, or festival, women take advantage of the Day to enjoy their shared sisterhood.
