On March 8, everyone had an opportunity to recognize all the incredible women who keep the world going round.
This International Women’s Day, we focused on ‘Inspiring Inclusion’ and recognizing all the different kinds of women who have a place in this world.
History
According to the International Women’s Day website, the first sparks of women’s suffrage began in 1908 and since then, women have spent decades fighting for their equality and a proper place at the table.
Most notably starting the movement in 1910, Clara Zetkin held a conference of working women as the leader of the women’s office of the social democratic party in Germany.
She proposed there be a day celebrated internationally where women could press their demands for reform.
The following year International Women’s Day was honored for the first time in Austria, Denmark, Germany, and Switzerland.
This was a massive win for these trail-blazing women, but across the world, in New York, the tragic ‘Triangle of Fire’ occurred taking more than 140 lives of working women on March 25.
This drew attention to the working conditions in the United States and became a catalyst for women’s rights campaigners in the US.
The next year in 1913, Russian women observed their first International Women’s Day and it was agreed by several nations that the momentous day be celebrated on March 8.
After decades of campaigning, International Women’s Day was made official and adopted by the United Nations in 1975.
2024
Each year there is a theme chosen for International Women’s Day to promote the cause and bring awareness to women and community issues today that need a platform.
This year, the theme is ‘Inspire Inclusion’, According to the International Women’s Day website, “ When we inspire others to understand and value women’s inclusion, we forge a better world.
And when women themselves are inspired to be included, there’s a sense of belonging, relevance, and empowerment.
Collectively, let’s forge a more inclusive world for women.”
Loretto
On Friday, March 8, Loretto celebrated International Women’s Day.
All angels were encouraged to wear purple, a color symbolizing justice, dignity, loyalty, and women and gender equality.
Throughout the month of March, the stories of influential women were told over the announcements to remind us of the impact we can make in the world.
Real women
At the forefront of loretto, we have three women who stand as strong pillars for our entire community.
Loretto’s President, Mrs. Cobb, Principal, Mrs. Tovar, and Dean of Students Mrs. Martinez all represent how women can make an impact in the world around them.
Loretto’s mission is to empower women and prepare them for the world ahead, Mrs Tovar said “ Forming leaders is one of our essential missions, I know that the people that work at this school all have that in mind when working with our students.
Developing your voice and guiding you to use your voice to make a difference in the world and doing it in a way that is with dignity, poise, and confidence”
Education is a top priority at Loretto, Mrs Martinez said, “ Knowledge is power.
If students work hard to make their learning their own they will be equipped for the future.
Your knowledge is your knowledge, no one can take that away from you.
You have to earn it but, it’s a gift to yourself.”
We learn that we have the power to impact the community around us, but when we empower ourselves, we can change the world.
Mrs. Cobb said, “It is also really important to me that our students realize that they can change the world around them and that they are part of a community where they can make a difference”
Before we can go out and change the world, we must first find it in ourselves to be leaders.
Mrs. Cobb said, “The sky’s the limit, there are a lot of stereotypes about what a leader looks like, what they don’t look like, how they sound… and I think very important for our girls to see themselves as who they are and not feel like they have to conform to stereotypes that exist for positions of leadership or any professional occupations.”
In a similar theme, Mrs. Martinez said,” I think by letting the girls know that there are so many possibilities in their futures and that we have to embrace our potential, they will go out and make a difference in the world.”
There is more to being a leader than just wanting to make change, we must first listen to the world around us a make space for those who haven’t been heard.
That is what this year’s International Women’s Day themes stated, to inspire inclusion around the world.
Mrs. Tovar said, “ When I think of the word inclusion, I think of the words mindful and intentional…in our busy world oftentimes we do overlook individuals or situations and so we have to be mindful and intentional that everyone has a seat at the table.”
As three of Loretto’s leaders, these women show us how our core values can be integrated into life and leadership.