There’s no stopping these women from making their voices heard.
International Women’s Day is always an occasion worth celebrating. This year, it’s especially important.
Less than two months removed from the massive worldwide Women’s March demonstration, women’s rights advocates and allies remain fired up and ready to go in the fight for gender equity. Amnesty International called International Women’s Day 2017 a “rallying cry,” organizers rallied in the name of a “Day Without a Woman” strike, and protesters around the globe once again took to the streets for marches and demonstrations.
Some groups used the day as an opportunity to brush up on a few facts about women.
Educate yourself about the gender pay gap in the U.S with these facts: https://t.co/xkP2sKZ9BG #InternationalWomensDay pic.twitter.com/ZLlLpYtaAe
— PolitiFact (@PolitiFact) March 8, 2017
Chancellor #AngelaMerkel of Germany is the most searched female world leader. #InternationalWomensDay pic.twitter.com/LGqBuWvSGJ
— GoogleTrends (@GoogleTrends) March 8, 2017
And others used the occasion to highlight women and causes that don’t get the attention they deserve.
Always shoot for the stars — Katherine Johnson did. #SheInspiresMe pic.twitter.com/nA9jnDnu2R
— Twitter (@Twitter) March 8, 2017
Like Katherine Johnson, an unsung hero who finally got her due in “Hidden Figures,” and Meagan Taylor, who reminds us that existence shouldn’t be a crime.
On #InternationalWomensDay we stand with women fighting for their rights, like our client, Meagan Taylor.
More: https://t.co/RFgqKlu6wJ pic.twitter.com/Uy1zbT0lfM
— ACLU National (@ACLU) March 8, 2017
As shown in these 17 images, though, the most inspiring things to happen around the world in the name of International Women’s Day were the marches, the gatherings, the rallies, and the demonstrations.
Which were held everywhere from Yogyakarta, Indonesia…
…to Lviv, Ukraine.
Women marched in Hong Kong…
…and Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
People took to streets across the world, everywhere from Rome, Italy…
…to right here in Washington, D.C., U.S.A.
The pink pussy hats made a comeback in Copenhagen, Denmark…
…while crowds of marchers turned out in Los Angeles, California.
Flags and signs flew high over the crowds in Istanbul, Turkey…
…and were held proudly by marchers in Athens, Greece.
In New York, marchers, strikers, and protesters were ready to stand up for their rights.
“A #DayWithoutAWoman is a day without me!”
NYC: Meet us at 59th & 5th! pic.twitter.com/j9xET6112c
— Women’s March (@womensmarch) March 8, 2017
New York cat cafe Korenko even held a Pussies Knit Back event where volunteers could come in to knit the now-ubiquitous “pussy hats.” The hats are available on their website (in both cat and human sizes), with proceeds going to Planned Parenthood.
Our knitty cats are hard at work! #PussiesKnitBack #Pussyhat #InternationalWomensDay pic.twitter.com/CxB8dp5d7D
— Koneko (@KonekoNYC) March 8, 2017
Faces were painted in Madrid, Spain…
…and in Chennai, India…
….while women in San Salvador, El Salvador, delivered strongly worded messages.
Street artists helped spread the word in Marseille, France…
…and people in Melbourne, Australia, struck a pose.
The circumstances, the struggles, and the lived experiences of the women in these photos may vary, but there’s a very simple, very common thread: sisterhood.
International Women’s Day is a great opportunity to reflect on those differences and to consider how we can join forces to help make the world a better place for all women regardless of their race, religion, country of origin, disability, sexuality, or any of the other factors that can sometimes divide us unnecessarily. It’s a great day to set the foundation for future progress.