The celebration of International Women’s Day (IWD) began in the 1900s during a time when women were oppressed and now serves as a national holiday on March 8 to honor women’s accomplishments and how far they’ve come.

As the holiday is celebrated every March, it’s important to take time to recognize the advancements to gender equality.

Loretto junior, Zoe Moreck said, “It’s not a day of celebration but of recognizing where we are now and where we need to be in the future.

The theme of this year’s IWD is #BreaktheBias, which calls upon citizens to imagine a gender-inclusive society free of prejudice, bias, or stereotypes. 

Loretto senior, Ainslie Stewart said, “More than 50 years ago we would not have the opportunities we do now.

I think women forget that we are living the dreams of the suffragettes: our great-grandmothers, grandmothers, and mothers.”

The 19th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote, was a clear sign to feminists of the change that was to come. 

Giving women the right to vote then, has given women the power now to run and be elected for office.

Loretto sophomore, Daphnney Gomez said, “It means we’re evolving as people, and women are gaining access to basic human rights that everyone should have.”

In honor of IWD, let’s not just celebrate people, but also the history they are making to push towards a gender-inclusive society.

This February has been a month to remember for gender equality. 

After a long fight, the pay gap in U.S Soccer has been closed by an agreement from U.S Soccer promising equal pay between men and women teams for all competitions.

Part of the agreement gives the most notable soccer players 24 million dollars to share from U.S Soccer as compensation.

Loretto freshman, Daniela Barraza said, “I believe that men and women are equal and deserve the same respect, which should be shown in the workforce.

I was happy to find out about the outcome of the lawsuit because it gives hope to all those who are wanting to see change.”

The lawsuit for equal pay was USWNT players versus the U.S Soccer Federation.

This sets a precedent for what’s to come with gender parity/equity in all women’s sports.

Women should not need to prove themselves by a number of wins to be treated equally to men. 

Ketanji Brown Jackson went down as a historic nomination to the Supreme Court.

She was appointed by Barack Obama in 2013 as a district judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.

If the Harvard graduate is confirmed by the Senate she will fill Stephen Breyer’s seat and sit as the first Black woman in the Supreme Court.

There has mostly been support for Jackson from the left and the right.

Moreck said, “I think the new nominee was a great decision because we need to see actual representation on the Supreme Court that represents what America actually looks like, so that way things aren’t always so one-sided.”

Athletes Unlimited’s debut basketball league will give women the opportunity to play professionally in the United States, instead of overseas.

The progress society has made since the 1900s is remarkable, and pushes citizens around the world to keep moving forward by voicing their opinions.

International Women’s Day calls upon the youth to reflect on the change they’ve made in the world and commemorate the lives that helped them come this far. 

Information courtesy of The New York    Times, NBC News, Smithsonian Magazine, Sports Illustrated.