Celebrating International Women’s Day
International Women’s Day has its roots in labour movements, women’s suffrage movements, and socialist feminism from the early 1900s. Building on this rich history, the United Nations began celebrating International Women’s Day on March 8 during International Women’s Year 1975. Two years later, in December 1977, the General Assembly adopted a resolution proclaiming a United Nations Day for Women’s Rights and International Peace to be observed on any day of the year by Member States, in accordance with their historical and national traditions. Canada celebrates on that March 8 anniversary.
As empowered women at the University of Manitoba, we celebrate International Women’s Day by sharing our commitment to listen and learn from diverse feminist voices, particularly those women impacted by socio-economic, able-ist, colonial, and racist systems of oppression. As we collectively work to realize UM’s commitment to eradicate all systemic inequities and biases, we take inspiration from the foundations of International Women’s Day and global feminist movements that have insisted transformative change begins with questioning privilege and recognizing how interlocked systems of oppression impact women’s lives.
We stand in solidarity with women at home and around the world who are leading the way, in difficult times, by sharing their voices and beliefs, and advocating for change despite oppression and high costs. We stand alongside women who are ensuring the care and safety of others amid suffering and devastation. We celebrate women who are standing strong in perilous times.
Today, and each day, we honour the women who have carved a path before us, and we work together to listen, understand and create a better way forward.
–Tina Chen, executive lead (equity, diversity and inclusion)
–Diane Hiebert-Murphy, provost and vice-president (academic)
–Catherine Cook, vice-president (Indigenous)
–Naomi Andrew, vice-president (administration)
–Vanessa Koldingnes, acting vice-president (external)