Celebrated around the world, International Women's Day is an important date to mark women's achievements and discuss what still needs to be done for women's rights and gender equality.

With over 100 years of history, the movement continues to be relevant today and is marked by demonstrations worldwide. Next, understand what this date is and why remembering it is still relevant for building a fairer society.

What is International Women's Day?

International Women's Day is the date on which the role of women in society is promoted, celebrated, and discussed. March 8 was officially recognized by the  United Nations in 1977 , when it became part of the institution's global calendar.

Although it only became an official date in the 1970s, Women's Day is older and its history began in the early 20th century.

How did International Women's Day originate?

The workers' and suffragette movements (formed by women in different countries who demanded, among other things, women's suffrage) of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries were fundamental for the creation of International Women's Day. At that time, there was great dissatisfaction with the inequality of women's rights.

This dissatisfaction filled the streets in 1908, when 15,000  female workers participated in a march in New York, in the United States, demanding shorter working hours, higher wages, and the right to vote. The following year, in 1909, the Socialist Party of America instituted National Women's Day .

In 1910, Clara Zetkin, a women's rights activist, managed to make the celebration annual and adopted by different countries, such as Austria, Germany, Denmark, and Switzerland. More than 1 million people – men and women – participated in the demonstrations that year worldwide. In the following year, 1911, an event drew even more global attention to the working conditions of women: the Triangle Shirtwaist factory fire in New York, which killed over 120 workers, most of them Jewish and Italian immigrants. The fight for more dignified work then became one of the major causes of International Women's Day in the years that followed.

Why was March 8 chosen?

There was no specific day when the celebration became international. But in 1917, there was an event that made March 8 a historic date for women's rights.

It was on this date in 1917 that Russian female workers initiated a strike under the slogan "bread and peace". The strike was an uprising against World War I, food rationing, and the lack of women's rights. The consequences  of the seven-day strike were important: Tsar Nicholas II was forced to resign and women obtained the right to vote. Thus, March 8 was institutionalized as International Women's Day.

What's the theme for Women's Day 2025?

Every year, the UN determines a subject that should be debated to discuss and improve the condition of women in the world. In 2025, the theme is "For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment*

According to the United Nations, the theme is an opportunity for the development of actions that increase equality of rights, expand female power in society, and help future generations of women to be protagonists.

Why is the date important?

Although women's rights have increased since the beginning of the last century, it is still necessary to discuss the role of women in society and continue with actions that promote gender equality. Even with the advances already achieved, there are still major challenges that society needs to resolve.

In the context of safety, for example, the World Health Organization estimates that, worldwide, 30% of women have experienced physical or sexual violence perpetrated by their partners. In the economy, a study released by the World Economic Forum  in 2024 reveals that it will take 134 years for women and men to achieve parity in the labor market worldwide.

What can we do for women's rights?

There are different ways to promote equality and women's rights.

Governments have the role of creating public initiatives that ensure the safety and health of women, for example, by combating domestic and sexual violence and providing access to medical care during pregnancy.

Companies can commit to actions to increase the female presence in their workforce and encourage the growth in the number of women in leadership positions through career development and acceleration. An example is Suzano which, in its commitment  to promote diversity, equity and inclusion, set the goal that 30% of its leadership (in positions of managers and above) be composed of women.

Learn more about the Commitments of Suzano  

People must also do their part. In daily life, teaching children that there are no distinctions between games and that boys and girls can choose any profession is a way to encourage equality.

Moreover, distributing the responsibilities of home and family care equally between men and women is essential for improving women's quality of life, since globally, women spend three times as many hours on domestic work compared to men, according to data released by the World Economic Forum.  

Inspiring stories of professionals

Suzano, a pulp and paper company, has been seeking ways to increase the presence of women in its workforce and leadership, overcoming challenges in a historically male-dominated sector. And the company is already showing good results: in the last five years, the presence of women in senior leadership (management and above) has grown tenfold, from 15 to 150 leaders.

Next, you will learn about stories of female employees who share their challenges and achievements.

From intern to leader

Jaqueline Aparecida da Silva Palma started working as an intern at the Suzano Unit (SP) during a very challenging time: the COVID-19 pandemic. "With isolation and remote work, I had to redouble my commitment and increase my curiosity to ensure that, even far away, I could learn from the team," she says. Since then, she has been made a permanent employee, participated in mentoring, and became the leader of logistics operations. "I didn't expect such an accelerated evolution, but this was the result of a lot of work, dedication, and development, in addition to the support of excellent managers that I had the opportunity to meet throughout my career," she says.

Pioneer in many areas

Environmental engineer Andreia Aparecida de Leite Souza is a pioneer. With a trajectory of over 20 years at Suzano, she was the first woman to lead the security area of the Jacareí (SP) unit and is currently the first female coordinator of the mill. "I had the opportunity to go through several operational areas, which greatly contributed to my personal and professional growth. I really like what I do and I am proud of my trajectory in the company," she says.

Example of leadership

In Mato Grosso do Sul, the forest engineer Ester Storck holds the position of coordinator of an area crucial for the business of Suzano: the harvest of eucalyptus, the raw material for the production of pulp . And she is the first woman to hold this position in the region, which encourages her to pave the way for other professionals. "The harvest is a challenging sector, with 24-hour operation and high demand. But I believe that, as women, we can offer a different perspective, characterized by greater closeness and attentiveness in team management," she says.

Inspiration and Encouragement

At Suzano since 2023, Anna Clara Gatinho de Lima, an Environmental Analyst at the Belém unit, sees the female leadership at Suzano as a great inspiration for her own career path. "I had the impression that engineering still carried an image associated with masculinity. But that perception changed when I arrived at Suzano," she says. "The two leaders I have had so far are women, and besides them, I interact daily with many other women in leadership positions. They are all great role models for me and inspire me to believe that I can also occupy these spaces," she says.

Learn more about Suzano's diversity actions on the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion page.

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