International Women’s Day is celebrated globally on March 8 every year. It’s celebrated to recognize women’s great achievements in different fields such as economy, medical field, politics, sports etc. International Women’s Day was first founded by clara Zetkin who was a communist activist and advocate for women’s rights. She suggested the idea of celebrating International Women’s Day in front of hundreds of women present during an international conference of working women in Copenhagen in year 1910. This suggestion was very well received. As a result, International Women’s Day came into existence. The first countries to celebrate International Women’s Day for the first time in 1911 were Denmark, Austria, Switzerland and Germany. This day didn’t have any fix date until year 1917 when on March 8, Russian women went on strike demanding their rights. They won the right to vote with several days’ long strike. March 8 was declared as International Women’s Day from that time onwards.
Theme of International Women’s Day for year 2022
Every year, this day is celebrated with different themes. The theme of this year 2022’s International Women’s Day is “Gender Equality Today for Sustainable Tomorrow”. This year’s International Women’s Day is focused on providing equal rights to women for building a bias free world for every girl and woman.
What does Gender Equality mean?
Gender equality means treating everyone equally regardless of their gender. Gender equality exists in a society where men and women both have equal rights, equal access to resources and equal opportunities without any bias. When one of the genders faces inequality, our society loses its balance. As an example, at the places where women have no right to education, poverty ratio is higher compared to the places where women are well educated. This happens because due to staying illiterate and unemployed, women cannot contribute to economy of their country which causes higher poverty ratio. If all women are provided equal rights as men, they can contribute to strengthen their nations as much as men.
How is International Women’s Day Celebrated?
Different organizations around the world celebrate this day with various ways. Women, who have great achievements are honoured on this day. Protests against violence against women and gender bias related issues are also part of this day. Due to Covid 19, this year’s events of International Women’s Day are more likely to be held virtually. This day has its own three famous colors as well. These three colors are Purple, Green and White. Purple is the color of justice and Dignity; Green represents hope and white symbolizes purity. These three colors together are the symbol of women’s equality. On March 8, women wear purple or all these three colors on their clothes, accessories and ribbons.
What is the reason of celebration of International Women’s Day?
Even after implementing policies to provide women their rights, there are still many women who are treated partially and suffer from abuse. This is why there is need to celebrate International Women’s Day to raise voices against the atrocities being committed on women. Back in early twentieth century and before, women had no right to vote in most countries. They also did not have equal pay rates and equal working conditions as men. International Women’s Day brought a great change in women’s lives by making their rights and efforts known to the whole world. We are going to celebrate 111th International Women’s Day this year. Although women are surpassing even men in every field now and almost all countries have reserved all human rights for women unlike a century ago, there are still many discrepancies. For example, income gap among men and women is still there. Even female dominated jobs like Nurse pay higher income to men than women. Whether it’s politics, business, sports, homes or schools, there are many women who are still discriminated. Where there is no problem with law, there is problem with some people’s wrong judgement towards women. This mindset is needed to be changed and only rules and regulations cannot change it. This is why we need a movement on big level which involves real people taking part in it and making others aware of women’s rights. International Women’s Day is one of these huge movements.
Dera Sacha Sauda’s campaigns for Women Empowerment and Gender Equality
Saint Dr. Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh Ji Insan is the chief of Dera Sacha Sauda which is world’s first organization to initiate multifarious initiatives for empowering women. Few of these initiatives are as follows:
- Self- Esteem Campaign: Free vocational training centers are opened by Dera Sacha Sauda followers for women under this initiative. These initiatives provide opportunities to unemployed and needy families’ women to get employed so that they become equally employed as men and can earn their own income.
- Crown of The Lineage: This campaign has uprooted the main reason of gender bias. Now parents have no reason to want only son for their lineage because thanks to this campaign, ‘only girl child’ of a family can carry her parents’ lineage forward after marriage. Her husband relocates to her house after marriage and they both take care of the girl’s parents together. Their child takes last name of his/her mother since it’s a maternal lineage.
- Integration of ex-prostitutes into main stream of society: Prostitutes are the disregarded sections of society. No one had ever done anything to free women and girls out of prostitution to provide them normal lives except Saint Dr. Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh Ji Insan. His holiness adopts such girls after making them leave prostitution and get them legally married into those families which love them and care for them like their own daughters. Many girls whose lives had turned into hell due to prostitution, are living happy lives thanks to Guru Ji.
- Anticipated Life: If a wife dies, her husband is allowed to remarry then why can’t a woman remarry when her husband dies? By initiating “Anticipated Life” campaign, Saint Dr. Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh Ji Insan has provided young widows the opportunity to remarry. Dera Sacha Sauda finds suitable grooms for such girls. In fact, many unmarried boys of marriageable age have married young widows with their own wish after getting inspiration from Saint Dr. Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh Ji Insan.
- Fee Self Defence Training Centers: To teach girls and women how to defend themselves when the need arises, Dera Sacha Sauda followers open free Self Defence Training Centers.
Conclusion
Women are power of this world. Without women, this world is incomplete. It is often said that world’s growth lies behind women’s growth. Well supported and educated women have more knowledge and power to bring good developments in our society. From taking care of their families to becoming world leaders, women have surpassed men in their achievements. Let’s not get this day wasted just by chanting women equality’s slogans. This day needs a change on international level which brings equity and equality for all women.
