International Women's Day: beyond the women's rights movement - Another March 8 is approaching and, with the date, the reaffirmation that the struggle continues. The International Women's Day of 2018 comes amid a global movement in which women fight for gender equality and against sexual harassment, violence, and discrimination. Women's rights have never been so mainstream with initiatives such as #MeToo and the Time's Up campaigns championed by Hollywood stars. We look back at historical events and facts about the origins of the date and celebrate the strong and inspiring women who have made a difference in the world! Check it out!

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Factory work - Women entered the job market in the 19th century during the Industrial Revolution  and started working in factories.

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Historical fight - In 1857, more than 120 workers at a textile factory in New York (USA) were burned to death because they went on strike. The bosses locked them inside and set the place on fire.

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For rights - These women fought to get paid the same wage as men, asked for reduced working hours (which could reach up to 16 hours a day), and maternity leave.

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Beginning of the women's rights movement - The tragic incident was one of the first triggers of the women's rights movement around the world.

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Another tragedy - Another incident that contributed to the birth of the movement was the fire at the Triangle Shirtwaist factory in New York in 1911. The fire claimed more than 140 victims, most of them women.

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Poor working conditions - The incident brought to the surface the terrible working conditions to which the workers were subjected to. This and other tragic cases, involving women dying at work, started to incite demonstrations.

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Movement - The women's rights movement, which was born in Europe, only started to gain strength in the 20th century.

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Empowerment - The first International Women's Day was celebrated on February 28, 1909 in the US. The Socialist Party of America was responsible for the initiative.

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Mobilization - On February 28, 1909 more than 15,000 women took to the streets to demand equal working conditions and the right to vote.

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The movement grows globally - On March 18, 1910 the International Women's Day saw the mobilization of more than one million people in Austria, Denmark, Germany, and Switzerland.

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The movement spreads - From the US and Europe, the date began to spread to other parts of the globe. In February 1913, Russian women celebrated the date, which in other countries began to be set on March 8.

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China - In 1922, the date became a milestone for women's struggle for equal rights in China.

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Official date - In 1975, the United Nations (UN) officially designated March 8 as International Women's Day. The purpose of the date is to remember the social, political, and economic struggles of women.

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Recognition - The date is recognized and celebrated in more than 25 countries, including China, Vietnam, Uganda, Afghanistan, Cuba, and Russia.

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One month - In the US, women's history is celebrated throughout the month of March, following the announcement by former President Barack Obama in 2011.

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A different fight every time - Since 1996, the UN has assigned a special theme to each year's International Women's Day.

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Theme for 2018 - This year's UN theme is 'Time is Now: Rural and urban activists transforming women’s lives.'

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Time is Now - March 8, 2018 takes place amid a global movement for rights, equality, and justice.

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United voices - Sexual harassment, violence, and discrimination against women have dominated the media agenda, driven by a growing determination for change, the UN said.

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Celebrity endorsement - In the entertainment industry, several stars have mobilized in awards ceremonies such as the Golden Globes for gender equality and against sexual harassment.

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#MeToo - The #MeToo movement in the US spread to many other countries and continents, including Mexico, Spain, and Latin America, according to UN Women.

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All over the world - The movement was also a success in Italy with #QuellaVoltaChe; in France, with #BalanceTonPorc; in the United Arab Emirates, with #Ana_kaman; and in Argentina, with 'Ni Una Menos.'

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Social equality - Other initiatives focus on issues ranging from equal pay to women being underrepresented in politics.

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Union - March 8 unites activists from around the world and the UN Women takes the opportunity to celebrate the progress, take action, and transform women's lives around the world, says the UN.

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All for women - Despite being a women's day, many men also celebrate the date to honor women's struggles and feminism.

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Remarkable women - We now celebrate strong, inspiring women from the most diverse areas who  have made a difference in the world.

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Simone Beauvoir - In 1949, the book that marks the birth of contemporary radical feminism was launched: 'The Second Sex.' The French writer is known for the quote 'One is not born, but rather becomes, a woman.'

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Simone Beauvoir - The existentialist philosopher wrote about the sexist traditions that dominated society and history. The work was a milestone for feminism.

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Simone Beauvoir - The author shared the idea that women have always been marginalized because men of all classes and parties have always denied them an autonomous existence.

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Malala Yousafzai - The Pakistani student challenged the Taliban to campaign for the right to education. She survived an attack and became a global advocate for women's rights. At the age of 17, she became the youngest Nobel Prize laureate.

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Eleanor Roosevelt - She was the wife and political adviser of US President F.D. Roosevelt. As head of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, she helped to draft the famous Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948.

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Princess Diana - Lady Di became known for her charitable work, especially for her involvement in the fight against AIDS and the international campaign against landmines.

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Maria da Penha - The Brazilian (pictured, on the wheelchair) is a women's rights movement leader, who was also a victim of domestic violence. On August 7, 2006, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva passed the Maria da Penha Law, which increases the severity of punishments in assaults against women in a domestic or family environment.

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Marie Curie - The Polish scientist was the first person to win the Nobel Prize in two different fields of science. She was also the first woman to win these prizes in the world.

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Marie Curie - Her first prize was in physics, for her contributions to radioactivity research (1903). Curie's second Nobel Prize was for chemistry in 1911.

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Joan of Arc - Military chief in the 100 Years War, she is considered one of the greatest French heroines. She was canonized as a martyr in 1920, centuries after she was burned alive.

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Margaret Thatcher - Thatcher was the first woman to become head of government in Britain.

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Benazir Bhutto - She was the first woman to become head of government in a Muslim country. She helped Pakistan's transition from a dictatorship to a democracy. Bhutto became prime minister in 1988.

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Coco Chanel - The French fashion designer was one of the most innovative in history. Chanel was instrumental in reinforcing the idea of ​​women's freedom, especially in the way they dress.

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Mother Teresa - Founder of the Missionaries of Charity, the nun personally cared for thousands of sick and dying people in Calcutta. She was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979.

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Wangari Maathai - Born in Kenya, she was an environmentalist and pro-democracy activist and women's rights activist. Maathai's work was recognized with a Nobel Peace Prize.

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Anne Frank - 'The Diary of Anne Frank' is one of the most popular books in the world and showed the personal drama of the 13-year-old Dutch girl who was confined to hiding in her attic at the outset of the Holocaust.

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Cleopatra - She was one of the most powerful and emblematic women in human history. The ruler of Egypt was known for her negotiation skills, for being a great military strategist, and for possessing high literacy.

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Oprah Winfrey - The presenter and entrepreneur was honored at the Golden Globes for her work. Oprah's speech about women's strength, sexual harassment, and racism was iconic.

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Madonna - The Queen of Pop is one of the most successful women in the history of music. It is also important to remember that she played a key role in female sexual liberation and empowerment.

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Billie Holiday - Known as the 'First Lady of the Blues,' Holiday is considered one of the greatest jazz singers in history.

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Dorothy Hodgkin - The British chemist was awarded the Nobel Prize for her discoveries in the structure of penicillin and insulin.

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Eva Perón - Argentina's First Lady was loved by the people. She is known for her campaigns to defend the poor and women's rights. Eva Perón died at age 32 in 1952.

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Germaine Greer - She is internationally recognized as one of the most important feminists of the 20th century.

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