March 8th is International Women's Day; it is a day that celebrates the social, economic and political achievements of women. It is a date
commemorated by the United Nations, and a national holiday in many parts of the world. The first
International Women's Day was held in 1911.
In Canada, although there is still a substantial pay difference (up to 30% for doing the same work with the same educational background) for men and women, females are working in more
high-demand fields than ever before.
This year's theme in Canada is "
Strong Women. Strong Canada. Strong World." Canada has been celebrating International Women's Day since 1977. They also recognize International Women's Week, which is held from March 7th until March 13th.
There are two events related to International Women's Day at McMaster today. The first is a talk on
Gender Equality by Stephen Lewis, which is from 1:00-2:30pm in Convocation Hall. Seating is limited, so get there early! The second is a
talk by award-winning author Deborah Ellis, from 7:00pm-9:00pm in Council Chambers (GH 111).
