History of Women's Day
International women’s day is basically defined as the day of celebrating the awareness of political and social rights of women. Since it has declared as national holiday by United Nations, every year on 8th of March women's economical and socio-political success are globally celebrated for the last 46 years. Up until 1909, women's rights have not had a significant awareness in social life. The day itself has later become a turning point in women’s rights history.
Historically Women's Day w obeobos first held as an organization on 28th February 1909 by Socialist Party of America, then it was proposed to be held every year in 1910 International Socialist Women's Conference. Right after women gained suffrage right in Soviet Russia in 1917, it became a holiday celebrated nationwide on March 8. Between the years of 1917-1967 it was mostly perceived as amovement. During 1960's, a revolutionary era of civil rights, sexual liberty, social norms and gender equality, Women’s Day was embraced by feminist movement. Finally in 1977 United Nations announced the day as international women’s day, a celebration of womanhood and achievements of women.
Today, in many countries it is official holiday, whereas it is still ignored by governments and scene to protests in some countries.
Suffrage and labor activist Flora Dodge "Fola" La Follette (1882-1970), social reformer and missionary Rose Livingston, and a young striker during a garment strike in New York City in 1913.
Regardless of the historical development of women's rights in socio-economical life, still today many women are abused over their bodies and faced with various ideological discriminations in their daily lives. Whether it is a great society, or indigenous community, the preliminary sign of development level is exactly how much our societies worth their women as individuals.
Celebration in one day is a small step for paying attention on awareness of the meaning of the day. Yet, without the need of a celebration/Memorial Day, it must become something usual that we embrace our women by supporting them not only at work life but also in every task they put great effort. Women produce and participate to work life, encourage their men and children to be developed, bring kindness, support community by contributing to household economy as much as men and sometimes even more, and undeniably have capability to run the world.
Women in Flower Business
Flower industry also seems to be evolved around men and underestimate the power of women. As big traders, men are used to have the power of controlling markets and production, getting business deals and managing company’s capitals.
However, women are now highly capable of not only working in farms and grading the goods, but also, they become actively participated in many management levels of companies, like accountancy, human resources, QC teams, procurement and so on.
Unfortunately, still in developing countries like Turkey, women in flower industry are perceived as supporting actresses in business, despite all the physical effort and creative contributions they make. Their ideas are well heard and benefited by men in power, but not made it visible in business life. Most men take women's labor force for granted and feel threatened by women who gain more and more power as decision makers.
“The thing women have yet to learn is nobody gives you power. You just take it.”
So far how much achieved, yet not enough. As women in business, and particularly in flower business, we should and we must speak even louder and not allow men to possess our ideas and efforts for themselves, whatsoever.
We are good at many levels of this industry, from delicately taking care of flowers, making bouquets, packaging to preparing budgets, financial statements and marketing campaigns, hiring successful employees and so on. We just need to be aware of who we are and be persistent in taking what we deserve. It is not a men's world, but successful people’s. Step forward, and start celebrating yourself not only today, but everyday starting from today.
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