Since 1977, International Women’s Day has been celebrated worldwide.  Countries around the globe laud the strides made for women’s rights and call attention to the gaps that still exist.

Now, over 40 years later, students contemplate the meaning of International Women’s Day- both for themselves and society as a whole.

Josh Dowell, freshman engineering major from Amarillo: “International Women’s Day reminds me of my mom and the moms that I’ve seen in other countries like Kenya and Brazil.  It reminds me of the hard work that women put into their families and communities, both here and around the world.”

Cassandra Frazier, freshman psychology major from San Antonio: “I think International Women’s Day is super important, because there are so many things that we take for granted today that we wouldn’t have or be able to live with if not for those women in history.  Even if it’s just a small piece of recognition, being able to spread the word about it and about all the important women involved is meaningful enough to create more widespread awareness.”

Dawson Maxwell, sophomore vocal education major from Sherman: “International women’s day is so meaningful to me because without the wisdom, leadership and encouragement from the women in my life, I would not be who I am today. We should be doing our best, not just today, but everyday, to give back to the women who support us.”

Tsion Amare, junior social work major from Dallas: “For me, women’s day has always been about celebrating the progress women have made in society and the enormous role we play. It is about recognizing the incredible women that are often overlooked. It is about rising above the stereotypes and performing far greater than the labels put on us. Women have been the core of society ever since the beginning of ages. However, more often not, we are overlooked, under-appreciated and forgotten; women like Rosalin Franklin, Lise Meitner, Katherine Johnson and many more. Women’s day is about empowerment and teaching young girls that they are more than housewives and secretaries. It’s about recognition and equality. And more importantly, it is about standing up for the millions of girls and women being trafficked and taken advantage of all around the world. It is about bringing justice for women all around us that are being assaulted, harassed and demeaned. Women’s day to me means living in a world where women are respected, recognized and empowered to be who they want to be.”

Rachel Jones, senior communication major from San Antonio: “It’s a day that asks all women and men to just pause and think about how far we’ve come politically, economically and socially. Women of today have moved mountains to pave the way for our daughters and granddaughters. Internationally, women’s day is to recognize this and encourage all women to keep pushing for equality and appreciation in every setting.”