International Women's Rights Day: Everything You Need to Know About March 8
Every year, March 8 rolls around with its share of posts, bouquets, and messages. Sometimes they’re spot on, sometimes they miss the mark. But before we celebrate this day, we need to understand what it really stands for.
International Women’s Rights Day did not originate from a commercial tradition. It emerged from the streets, the factories, and the concrete demands of women who wanted rights. Understanding its origins is the simplest way to celebrate it properly.
International Women's Rights Day: What Is It All About?
Before we go any further, let’s talk about the terminology. Because the way we refer to this day already says a lot about how we understand it.
A day of struggle, not a celebration
March 8 is a day of recognition and action. It is not a frivolous celebration, nor is it an excuse for commercial promotions. It is a day that serves as a reminder that equality between women and men is not a given, and that it is achieved through collective struggle.
This is no small matter. It’s a day of great significance. And that significance deserves to be recognized.
"Women's Day," "Women's Festival": Why These Terms Are Problematic
“Women’sDay,” “Women’s Day,” “Happy Women’s Day”: these phrases are everywhere, especially in online searches. They’re often well-intentioned. But they miss the point.
To call it “Women’s Day” is to reduce this day to a gender-based celebration, like Mother’s Day or Valentine’s Day. However, March 8 does not celebrate women as a category. It serves as a reminder that their rights have been—and still are—a struggle to achieve.
The correct term: International Women’s Rights Day. Because that’s exactly what it’s about: rights.
I find my bouquet of flowers
History and Origins of March 8
March 8 did not come about by chance. It is the result of a long process that combines labor struggles, feminism, and international mobilizations.
The First Demands of the 20th Century
It all began in the early 20th century, against the backdrop of rising labor and suffrage movements. In 1910, Clara Zetkin, a German socialist activist, proposed the establishment of an International Women’s Day at the International Conference of Socialist Women in Copenhagen. The idea was to create an annual occasion to raise awareness and mobilize support for the rights of working women.
The first demonstrations took place as early as 1911 in Germany, Austria, Denmark, and Switzerland. In 1917, Russian women workers launched a historic strike on March 8—a strike that helped spark the February Revolution. The date began to gain prominence.
Official recognition by the UN in 1977
It would take several decades for the day to gain international recognition. In 1975, the UN celebrated International Women’s Day for the first time. Two years later, in 1977, it was officially established by the United Nations as International Women’s Rights Day.
Since then, March 8 has been celebrated around the world, with the UN setting a theme each year to guide discussions and outreach efforts.
March 8 Today: Struggles That Continue
More than a century after the first protests, much has changed. Much remains to be done.
Equal Pay and Professional Equality
In France, women earn, on average, 16 percent less than men. For equivalent positions and experience, the gap narrows but does not disappear. Globally, the World Economic Forum estimated in 2023 that it would still take more than a century to achieve global economic parity.
The glass ceiling still exists. Women remain underrepresented in leadership positions, on boards of directors, and at the helm of institutions.
Violence, Discrimination, and Gender Equality
Worldwide, one in three women experiences physical or sexual violence at some point in her life. In France, the statistics on domestic violence remain alarming despite legislative progress in recent years.
Gender equality is advancing slowly. Women’s representation in the media, culture, and science remains uneven. Stereotypes persist, often starting in childhood.
This is not a list born of despair. It is an honest assessment of the current situation, which justifies why March 8 continues to exist.
How can we celebrate this day?
March 8 doesn't impose anything. It's an invitation. Here are a few ways to respond, depending on your means and preferences.
Learn About and Support Causes
The first way to mark this day is to understand. Read, listen, watch. There are podcasts, documentaries, and books that shed light on current issues without oversimplifying them.
Supporting organizations that take action every day—combating violence, helping people find jobs, and promoting access to education—is another concrete way to get involved, even beyond March 8.
A thoughtful gesture: flowers and heartfelt words
Giving flowers on March 8 is a gesture that can be meaningful—as long as it’s accompanied by something more: a written note, a sincere gesture, or an acknowledgment of what the person represents and contributes.
The mimosa is the traditional symbol of this day. And it’s no coincidence: it’s the flower of latewinter—the one that withstands the cold and blooms before all the others. A bouquet of mimosas accompanied by a few heartfelt words is a gesture that speaks volumes.
Sessile.fr's Statement on International Women's Rights Day
At Sessile, we believe that gestures matter when they’re rooted in something real. Giving flowers on March 8 is nice. Knowing why you’re giving them is even better.
This day deserves to be understood before it is celebrated. And if you’d like to mark the occasion with seasonal flowers —mimosa, ranunculus, the first French tulips —our local florists create arrangements every day using whatever is in season.
Pair them with a few handwritten words. Nothing perfect or spectacular. Just thoughtful.
Who are we?
Sessile champions the independence of artisan florists online. Founded in 2019 by six friends, Sessile brings together 500 florists committed to transforming the industry and enables flower delivery throughout France, Belgium, and Luxembourg. By breaking away from the traditional online catalog model, the network highlights each florist’s expertise and helps keep the art of floristry alive. Florists can pursue their passion and create more creative bouquets because they have greater freedom to offer seasonal flowers and, whenever possible, locally sourced flowers.
