International Women’s Day 2025: The Untold Fight for ALL Women and Girls – Rights, Equality & Empowerment!

A woman. What does this word mean? A child, a mother, a partner, a changemaker, a leader… a person? 

It means everything, actually. She is the heart of a home, the mind behind revolutions, the hands that build, and the voice that refuses to be silenced. She nurtures, she fights, she leads, and yet, the world has often met her with barriers instead of bridges. But if history has proven anything, it’s that no chain is strong enough to hold back a woman determined to rise.

This International Women’s Day 2025, we do not just mark a date on the calendar—we carve a testament to resilience, a reminder that every right fought for must be defended, and every voice silenced must rise again. This year’s theme, “For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment.”, is not a request; it is a declaration. 

Because in some corners of the world, a girl’s dreams are still buried before they bloom. Because classrooms remain locked to those born daughters. Because choice is still a luxury, not a right.

This day is not just for women—it is for humanity. A world where women are safe is a world where everyone thrives. So, let’s not just read about history—let’s believe in the change we must make. Let’s hear the story of this day. Let’s fight for the future it promises.

Table Of Contents 

1. Why Is March 8 Celebrated As International Women's Day?
2. What Is The Theme For International Women's Day 2025?
3. Importance Of International Women’s Day In India And Worldwide
4. The Final Say 
5. FAQs
6. References 
    

Why Is March 8 Celebrated As International Women's Day?

Behind every no she was told, she carved a path to her own yes.

March 8 - What's The Significance Of the Date?

March 8 is not just another day—it is a symbol of struggle, resistance, and progress for women worldwide. The date traces its origins to early 20th-century labor movements, particularly in 1908, when 15,000 women marched in New York City demanding shorter work hours, better pay, and voting rights. Inspired by this, in 1910, German activist Clara Zetkin proposed the idea of a Women’s Day at the International Socialist Women's Congress, leading to the first official celebration in 1911.

However, it was March 8, 1917, that cemented this date in history. Women in Russia took to the streets, protesting for "Bread and Peace" amid World War I and oppressive conditions. Their activism brought about a revolution that led to widespread political change, such as the granting of suffrage to women in Russia. This served as an inspiration to socialist movements across the world, and March 8 was made International Women's Day in 1977 by the United Nations, observing it as a day of lobbying for equality for women across the world.

On March 8 today, the day is a commemoration of milestones and also a reminder of the struggle to attain equality for women and their holistic wellness. It is a wake-up call for governments, institutions, and people to strive for a world in which all women and girls are really equal.

Also Read: International Women's Day 2024: Insights On Empowering Women’s Health & Wellness 

History of Women's Day

The roots of International Women’s Day (IWD) run deep into the early 1900s, an era of industrialisation, worker exploitation, and rising activism. Here’s how the day evolved into the global movement it is today: 

Areas Of Struggle, Still…

We are observing International Women’s Day 2025 today, yet some staggering facts about gender inequality worldwide remain: 

 Health

• Maternal Mortality: Every day, 830 women die from preventable causes like anaemia and related to pregnancy and childbirth, with 99% of these deaths occurring in low-income countries.
• Pain Bias: Women are 10% less likely than men to have their pain taken seriously by doctors. Many report being dismissed as "hysterical" when describing severe symptoms.
• Mental Health Gap: Women are twice as likely to experience anxiety and depression as men due to systemic and social pressures. 
   

Education & STEM

• Education Access: Over 129 million girls worldwide are out of school due to poverty, cultural norms, and conflict.
• STEM Careers: Women hold only 28% of STEM jobs despite outperforming men academically in math and science. 
   

Employment & Economy

• Wage Gap: Women globally earn 20% less than men for the same work.
• Unpaid Work: Women perform 76% of all unpaid care work (childcare, elder care, household duties), affecting their economic independence and mental wellness.
• Glass Ceiling: Only 10% of Fortune 500 CEOs are women, and women hold less than 30% of political leadership roles worldwide.
   

Violence & Social Issues

• Gender-Based Violence: 1 in 3 women globally experience physical or sexual violence in their lifetime.
• Child Marriage: 12 million girls are married before the age of 18 every year, often forced into the union.
• Lack of Legal Rights: 104 countries still have laws preventing women from working certain jobs.
   

Also Read: Herbal Teas For Women's Health: Balancing Hormones And PMS Symptoms 

What Is The Theme For International Women's Day 2025?

Her story is not written by society…it’s written by her own fearless hands.

International Women’s Day 2025 theme is: “For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment.”

This theme isn’t just an yearly practice. It’s a promise. A promise to that world to break barriers, destroy discriminations and forge a future where EVERY woman and girl has equal rights, opportunities, and power.

This year's celebration is particularly important since it is the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action—a milestone in the worldwide struggle for gender equality. Enacted in 1995 at the Fourth World Conference on Women, this platform has been the most forward-thinking plan for promoting women's rights across the globe, encompassing all types of wellness dimensions for women. It set definitive objectives for legal protection, health and education, economic empowerment, and the reduction of harmful social norms and stereotypes.

Thirty years later, the world is at a crossroads. While progress has been made, many of the promises made in Beijing remain unfulfilled. This year’s theme stresses the urgency of action, particularly in empowering young women and adolescent girls—the next generation of leaders and change-makers.

Importance Of International Women’s Day In India And Worldwide

Equality is not a favor—it’s a right that should never be questioned.

1. A Fight Against Gender-Based Violence

Women's violence is not an issue—it's a crisis. Women's crimes, including domestic violence, acid attacks, honor killings, and marital rape, continue to exist in India. 

India still sees more than 88 rapes on average every day despite tougher laws, as per NCRB reports. Many cases do not get reported because of stigma, fear or disbelief in the justice system. International Women's Day 2025 is also a reminder that dignity and safety must not remain privileges but an unalienable right for every woman.

2. The Struggle for Equal Pay and Economic Empowerment

Mental health and wellbeing are important in the workplace, yet, in India women earn roughly 19% less than men for the same work, according to the Monster Salary Index. Even in corporate leadership, women are severely underrepresented—only 17.1% of board seats in India’s top companies are occupied by women. The struggle is even worse for women in informal sectors, where exploitation and wage theft are rampant and psychological stress at the workplace remains unaddressed. 

Self-made leaders like Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw (founder of Biocon) prove that women can excel in business, but their journey remains far more difficult than that of their male counterparts. 

Equal pay isn’t just about fairness—it’s about ensuring women have the financial independence, occupational wellness, and corporate wellness to lead their own lives. 

3. The Right to Education—A Dream for Many Girls

Despite progress, India still has over 4 million out-of-school girls (UNESCO data). In states like Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, early marriages, household responsibilities, and poverty push girls out of classrooms. 

Malala Yousafzai was shot for demanding education, a right many girls in India still struggle to access. The Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao was launched to increase female literacy, but entrenched biases in society keep undermining the progress. 

4. Breaking the Chains of Child Marriage

India has the highest number of child brides in the world, with one in three child marriages globally occurring here. In rural areas, young girls are still forced into marriage before they even understand what it means. The case of Rupa, a 13-year-old girl from Bihar who ran away to escape child marriage, highlights the desperate fight many girls face. 

Despite laws like the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, law enforcement is lackadaisical. International Women's Day acts as a wake-up call for protecting the dreams of these tiny tots and making sure no child is made to live in a life never dreamed of by them.

5. Women’s Health—A Neglected Priority

From menstruation stigma to absence of maternal healthcare, India's women's health is regularly neglected. More than 23 million girls miss school each year because of period poverty, with unsafe abortion and absence of maternal care resulting in 50,000 deaths a year. 

The tragic death of Savita Halappanavar, an Indian-origin woman in Ireland, due to denied abortion care sparked global conversations on reproductive rights. Even in India, women’s pain is often dismissed, with conditions like endometriosis and PCOS remaining underdiagnosed. This day, there is a demand for a healthcare system that takes women’s needs seriously.

6. Representation in Politics—A Long Road Ahead

Women constitute close to 50% of India's population and yet occupy just 15% of Parliament's seats. The passage of the Women's Reservation Bill, reserving 33% of women's seats in the legislatures, has recently been a step in the right direction, but obstacles exist. 

Droupadi Murmu's ascension to the position of India's first tribal woman President is a milestone, but politics is still a man's game. Women politicians face sexism, threats, and no encouragement, discouraging many from vying for leadership positions. Women's voices in government are significant in formulating policies that impact them.

7. Social Stigma and the Battle for Respect

Social wellness is a need for all, yet women are always at the frontlines of social stigma. Even today, women in India face honor killings, dowry deaths, and moral policing. Widows in certain parts of India are ostracised, divorced women are shamed, and working mothers are judged. 

From Sania Mirza being questioned about “settling down” to Priyanka Chopra facing scrutiny for marrying younger, women constantly fight against societal expectations. International Women’s Day challenges these deep-seated biases and calls for a future where women are not defined by outdated norms but by their ambitions and choices.

Also Read: Mushroom Coffee For Women's Health: Benefits And Precautions 

The Final Say 

Like rivers that flow endlessly, women carry the currents of life forward, nourishing all they touch, and shaping the world with their strength and perseverance. They have risen like the sun through history—sometimes unseen, sometimes overshadowed, but always lighting the path forward. Yet, despite everything they do, the world has often repaid them with chains.

International Women's Day is not a date on a calendar—it's a clarion call, a celebration of struggle, of achievement, and the struggle that still remains. It's a day to celebrate each woman and girl for her strength, to give a stage to their voices and demand a world where rights are not privileges, but promises.

Change is not a dream—it is a necessity. And as we celebrate this day, let us not just acknowledge the past, but actively shape a future where no woman has to fight for what should already be hers.

FAQs

1. What is the symbol of International Women’s Day?

The most commonly used symbol for International Women's Day is the Venus female symbol, which is a circle with a cross handle. This symbol is often combined with other symbols like a raised fist, the number 8, a globe, a flower, or a heart.

2. When was International Women’s Day first observed?

International Women's Day was first observed on March 19, 1911, in Austria, Denmark, Germany, and Switzerland. However, it became globally recognised on March 8 after Russian women staged a strike on February 23, 1917, which translated to March 8 in the Gregorian calendar.

3. What is the color associated with International Women’s Day?

The colors associated with International Women's Day are purple, green, and white. These colors symbolise justice, hope, and purity, respectively8.

4. Who started International Women’s Day?

International Women's Day was initiated by Clara Zetkin, a German socialist, who proposed the idea at the International Socialist Women's Conference in Copenhagen in 1910134.

5. What does "accelerate action" mean in reference to Women's Day?

"Accelerate Action" is a call to speed up in order to attain gender equality and women's empowerment. It is a call for urgency of action and speed in dismantling the systemic barriers and biases that hinder the empowerment and advancement of women.

6. How is International Women’s Day observed in India?

International Women's Day in India is observed with a plethora of events, seminars, workshops, and cultural events. The government also showcases its women empowerment policies, and there are general celebrations across sectors to celebrate women's success and promote women's rights. 
 

References 

• https://news.un.org/en/story/2025/03/1160671 
• https://www.un.org/en/observances/womens-day 
• https://blog.soroptimist.org/blog/a-history-of-international-womens-day 

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