International Women’s Day is a celebration of women’s rights, freedoms, and the wellbeing of women all around the world.
History
International Women’s Day is held on the 8th March every year and has been taking place since the early 1900s, but it has not always been on this date.
The earliest version of the day took place in 1908 when 15,000 women marched through the streets of New York City demanding more pay, better working hours and the right to vote. In 1909, the Socialist Party of America declared the first National Women’s Day on the 28th February. America’s National Women’s Day then took place on the last Sunday of February for a few more years after that.
A woman called Clara Zetkin, who was a communist activist and advocate for women’s rights, later suggested in 1910 that International Women’s Day should take place on the same day all across the world. She raised this at an International Conference for Working Women that was taking place in Copenhagen where she was accompanied by a hundred other women from seventeen different countries, who all voted in favour of the day.
Women in Law
In 1919, the Sex Disqualification (Removal) Act came into force, which was revolutionary for the legal profession. Until the introduction of this Act, women were not permitted to take their solicitor exams and qualify, meaning that only men could become solicitors, barristers and magistrates. We have therefore come a very long way!
As a firm, celebrating the success of the female members of our team (as well as the male members) is something that we do on a daily basis. International Women’s Day is another opportunity for us all to reflect on our rights, freedoms and happiness as women.
I think I can talk on behalf of our team when I say that we are truly inspired by the female leaders in our field, including our very own female Directors who excel in what they do. It is also important to us as a firm that we not only celebrate professional achievements, but personal achievements also, whatever they may be.
Happy International Women’s Day!
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Author: Esther Ifan
Published: 08/03/25