International Women's Day

March is women's month, and today, March 8, is International Women's Day. This is a significant day for raising awareness among all, both men and women, about gender sensitivity and women empowerment.

The world has been celebrating this event for 100 years, from 1911 to 2011. It is a centenary celebration for 2011. For this year, the theme is "Equal access to education, training and science and technology: Pathway to decent work for women."

Below is the list of the themes used in the past celebrations:
- 2010: Equal rights, equal opportunities: Progress for all
- 2009: Women and men united to end violence against women and girls
- 2008: Investing in Women and Girls
- 2007: Ending Impunity for Violence against Women and Girls
- 2006: Women in decision-making
- 2005: Gender Equality Beyond 2005: Building a More Secure Future
- 2004: Women and HIV/AIDS
- 2003: Gender Equality and the Millennium Development Goals
- 2002: Afghan Women Today: Realities and Opportunities
- 2001: Women and Peace: Women Managing Conflicts
- 2000: Women Uniting for Peace
- 1999: World Free of Violence against Women
- 1998: Women and Human Rights
- 1997: Women at the Peace Table
- 1996: Celebrating the Past, Planning for the Future
- 1975: First IWD celebrated by the United Nations

In view of the celebration I have also listed down some quotes about women empowerment. Enjoy.

“We have to free half of the human race, the women, so that they can help to free the other half." -Emmeline Pankhurst.

“Men are taught to apologize for their weaknesses, women for their strengths." -Lois Wyse.

"A woman is like a tea bag: you cannot tell how strong she is until you put her in hot water." -Nancy Reagan

"The test for whether or not you can hold a job should not be the arrangement of your chromosomes. -Bella Abzug

“If we mean to have heroes, statesmen and philosophers, we should have learned women.” -Abigail Adams

"Women's empowerment is intertwined with respect for human rights."
-Mahnaz Afkhami

"When women thrive, all of society benefits, and succeeding generations are given a better start in life." - Kofi Annan

“Women have been taught that, for us, the earth is flat, and that if we venture out, we will fall off the edge,” by Unknown Author.

“Feminism directly confronts the idea that one person or set of people [has] the right to impose definitions of reality on others." -Liz Stanley and Sue Wise.

"I declare to you that woman must not depend upon the protection of man, but must be taught to protect herself and there I take my stand." - Susan B. Anthony

“The emotional, sexual, and psychological stereotyping of females begins when the doctor says, "It's a girl,” by Shirley Chisholm.

“Women's chains have been forged by men, not by anatomy.” -Estelle R. Ramey

“Strengthen the female mind by enlarging it, and there will be an end to blind obedience.” -- Mary Wollstonecraft.

“It is not gender which is destroying our culture.... it is our interpretations of culture which has destroyed gender equality.” --Cambodian civil society group.

“The education and empowerment of women throughout the world cannot fail to result in a more caring, tolerant, just and peaceful life for all.” -Aung San Suu Kyi

"Even though they make up half the population, women and girls have endured discrimination in most societies for thousands of years. In the past, women were treated as property of their husbands or fathers - they couldn't own land, they couldn't vote or go to school, and were subject to beatings and abuse and could do nothing about it. Over the last hundred years, much progress has been made to gain equal rights for women around the world, but many still live without the rights to which all people are entitled." -Robert Alan