What Surprising Event Led to the Establishment of the First International Women's Day?

International Women's Day, celebrated annually on March 8, has its roots in the early 20th century labor movements in North America and Europe. The first official observance took place in 1911, following a proposal by Clara Zetkin, a German socialist, during the 1910 International Socialist Women's Conference in Copenhagen. This initiative aimed to promote equal rights, including suffrage, and was inspired by the 1908 garment workers' strike in New York City, where thousands of women protested against poor working conditions and low wages. The day quickly gained traction, and it symbolizes the ongoing struggle for women's rights globally, evolving into a celebration of women's achievements and a call to action for gender equality.