(Zaie / Shutterstock.com)
On March 8, 2026, International Women’s Day is commemorating its 115th year. This global day celebrating women’s achievements is also dedicated to gender equality, diversity, and parity. That’s why the theme Giving to Gain is so important.
Giving to Gain, according to the International Women’s Day website, shows the power of giving generously to support women. You can do so through donations, advocacy, education, or mentoring to contribute to the advancement of women around the globe.
From Humble Beginnings
International Women’s Day began officially in 1911 (1909 in the US where 15,000 people marched for better pay and voting rights) with just four countries as a day to celebrate working women, reported USA Today. But the date was not fixed until just before WWI in 1914. It took until 1975 for the United Nations to observe the day.
While International Women’s Day is not an official US holiday, it is observed by many educational institutions, communities, and companies who are calling for change. But is change still necessary?
With 50 percent of the population being female, it’s hard to imagine that the same battles are fought year after year. While there have been advances, there is still a long way to go.
Gender Equality Today
The Global Gender Gap Report 2025 from the World Economic Forum, that looks at benchmarks in gender equality in 148 countries, found that the gap is only 68.8 percent closed. That’s only an increase of 0.3 percent from the year before. The US ranked 42 nd overall and 58th for health. The US was one of seven countries to report an increase in maternal death since 2020.
The World Economic forum has said that gender parity is about a century away but that is too long to wait, according to The Standard.
That is why the theme of this year’s International Women’s Day is so vital. Giving support to organizations that benefit women are not just meant to impact women today, it is also to impact the generations of women to come.
Bringing these issues to the forefront can help find impactful solutions and make gender equality a reality.
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE:
10 Historical Firsts in Women’s Rights
50 Famous Firsts in American Women's History
5 Trailblazing Women’s Equality Activists You Should Know
