1612
Literature
Birth of Anne Dudley (Anne Bradstreet)
Anne Dudley (later Anne Bradstreet) is born in Northampton, England, into a literate Puritan family that will foster her development as the first published poet of colonial America.
View detailsThis Day
08March
47 indexed achievements across recorded history.
1757
Science
Birth of Élisabeth Thible in Lyon, France
Élisabeth Thible (née Estrieux) was born in Lyon, France, on 8 March 1757.
View details1836
Activism
Reorganization of Bradford Academy as first all-female academy in Massachusetts
Massachusetts legislature approved reorganization of Bradford Academy as an exclusively female seminary, making it the first all-female academy in the state.
View details1839
Science
Birth of Josephine Garis Cochrane
Birth of Josephine Garis (later Cochrane) in Ashtabula County, Ohio, on March 8, 1839.
View details1843
Activism
Arrival on the Gold Coast with Basel Mission recruits
Catherine arrived on March 8, 1843, at the Gold Coast with Caribbean recruits for the Basel Mission.
View details1879
Medicine
First Dutch Female Physician Graduates
In March 1879, Aletta Jacobs graduated from the University of Groningen as the first female physician in the Netherlands.
View details1892
Literature
Birth of Juana de Ibarbourou
Juana de Ibarbourou was born on March 8, 1892, in Melo, Uruguay.
View details1896
Politics
Birth of Charlotte Whitton
Charlotte Whitton was born on March 8, 1896, in Renfrew, Ontario, Canada.
View details1909
Science
Birth of Beatrice Shilling
Beatrice Shilling was born on March 8, 1909, in Waterlooville, Hampshire.
View details1910
Aviation
First French woman granted a pilot certificate
Raymonde de Laroche became the first French woman to receive a pilot’s certificate on 8 March 1910.
View details1910
Aviation
World’s first licensed female pilot
On 8 March 1910, Raymonde de Laroche became the world’s first woman to earn an airplane pilot’s license.
View details1918
Science
Arrested and imprisoned in Holloway Jail
On 8 March 1918, Markievicz was arrested under the Defence of the Realm Act and imprisoned in Holloway Prison, London, for alleged involvement in a pro-German plot.
View details1925
Arts
Death of Juliette Wytsman
Juliette Wytsman passed away on March 8, 1925, in Ixelles, Belgium.
View details1930
Sports
World record in 200-yard freestyle
Madison set a world record of 2:21.4 in the 200-yard freestyle at the U.S. national championships in Palm Beach, Florida.
View details1948
Activism
Death of Emily Perkins Bissell
Death of Emily Perkins Bissell at Delaware Hospital in Wilmington, Delaware, aged 86, after a three‑month illness.
View details1948
Arts
Birth of Peggy March
Peggy March was born Margaret Annemarie Batavio on March 8, 1948, in Lansdale, Pennsylvania.
View details1972
Activism
Recognized as Righteous Among the Nations
On March 8, 1972, Gies was honored by Yad Vashem in Israel.
View details1985
Arts
Women's International Center Living Legacy Award
Smith received the Women's International Center Living Legacy Award, honoring her lifetime achievements as a performer.
View details1986
Literature
Death of Kersti Merilaas
Kersti Merilaas passed away on March 8, 1986, in Tallinn, Estonia.
View details1998
Science
Death of Anna Jane Harrison
Anna Jane Harrison died on March 8, 1998, at the age of 85, leaving behind a legacy as a pioneering chemist and educator.
View details2010
Activism
Induction into Maryland Women’s Hall of Fame
Carol W. Greider is inducted into the Maryland Women’s Hall of Fame on International Women’s Day.
View details2011
Science
Women's History Month Recognition by Delta Gamma
Jessica O. Matthews was featured by Delta Gamma during Women's History Month for her invention of the Soccket and entrepreneurial achievements.
View details2012
Politics
HUD honors Hills's pioneering legacy on International Women's Day
HUD publicly recognized Carla Hills on International Women's Day 2012 as the first woman to lead the department.
View details2013
Arts
"The Observance" Opens at Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami
Booker's solo exhibition "The Observance" opened at the Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami, accompanied by a University of Chicago Press publication.
View details2013
Science
Tech Heroines profile for contributions to girls in technology
Profiled by Tech Heroines for enhancing girls' participation in tech.
View details2017
Activism
Vital Voices Leadership Award
Kachindamoto wins the Leadership in Public Life Award from Vital Voices.
View details2017
Sports
Featured in Nike Pro Hijab Launch Campaign
Amna Al Haddad was a lead athlete voice in Nike's unveiling of the Pro Hijab, a sports hijab designed for elite Muslim athletes.
View details2017
Activism
UN Women Profiles Her Achievements
UN Women notes Kachindamoto annuls 1,500+ marriages.
View details2018
Activism
Parallel launch of Aurat Azadi March in Islamabad
Socialist-feminist groups launched the Aurat Azadi March in Islamabad on the same day as the inaugural Aurat March.
View details2018
Science
New York Times publishes "Overlooked" obituary for Emily Warren Roebling
On March 8, 2018, The New York Times published a belated 'Overlooked' obituary honoring Emily Warren Roebling's role in completing the Brooklyn Bridge.
View details2018
Activism
Inaugural Aurat March held in Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad
The first Aurat March took place on International Women's Day 2018 in three major Pakistani cities, launching a new annual feminist street protest movement.
View details2018
Activism
Hum Aurtein–led Aurat March platform established
Hum Aurtein and allied feminist collectives organized the inaugural Aurat March in Karachi and Lahore, creating a broad non-party feminist platform.
View details2018
Science
Barbie 'Inspiring Women' series launched
Mattel launched the Barbie 'Inspiring Women' series honoring historical and contemporary female role models, beginning with Amelia Earhart, Frida Kahlo, and Katherine Johnson.
View details2018
Science
International Women's Day Feature
On International Women's Day, Matthews was recognized for her path from inventing the Soccket to building an infrastructure and energy-access company.
View details2019
Activism
Second annual Aurat March expands across Pakistani cities
The second Aurat March took place on International Women's Day 2019, expanding to more cities and consolidating as an annual tradition.
View details2020
Activism
First Timucuan Parks Foundation Women’s History Month honoree
Timucuan Parks Foundation began its Women’s History Month series on March 8, 2020 by featuring MaVynee "Beach Lady" Betsch as its first honoree.
View details2020
Activism
2020 Aurat March adopts 'Khud Mukhtari' (autonomy) theme
Aurat March 2020 centered the theme of 'Khud Mukhtari' (autonomy), addressing bodily, economic, legal, and social independence for women.
View details2021
Activism
Fourth consecutive Aurat March held nationwide
Aurat March held its fourth annual demonstrations on International Women's Day 2021, articulating intersectional demands across major cities.
View details2021
Science
Nobel Women Who Changed Science profile on Linda Buck
On International Women’s Day, the Nobel Prize organization profiles Linda Buck in its “Women Who Changed Science” series.
View details2022
Activism
Aurat March continues as central feminist mobilization
Aurat March 2022 demonstrations were held on International Women's Day, now recognized in academic and media analysis as a central feminist movement in Pakistan.
View details2022
Science
Honored as RWTH Aachen 'Patent of the Month' for International Women's Day
RWTH Aachen University Library's Patent and Standards Center features Ann Tsukamoto's stem cell patent as its March 'Patent of the Month' in honor of International Women's Day.
View details2023
Activism
Sixth year of Aurat March demonstrations
Aurat March marked at least six consecutive years of coordinated feminist street protests across Pakistan on International Women's Day 2023.
View details2023
Arts
Google Play feature for International Women’s Day highlighting Roberta Williams
Roberta Williams was featured on Google Play for International Women's Day 2023.
View details2024
Activism
2024 Women’s History Month spotlight on NaNa Dune activism
On Mar 8, 2024, Timucuan Parks Foundation again spotlighted MaVynee Betsch for Women’s History Month, stressing her role in naming and protecting NaNa Dune.
View details2024
Activism
Ongoing annual Aurat March addresses economic and environmental justice
Aurat March 2024 mobilized in multiple Pakistani cities, underscoring its durability and expanding demands to economic, environmental, and reproductive justice.
View details2025
Activism
Aurat March maintains role as defining women's rights movement
Aurat March 2025 continued its tradition of International Women's Day protests, framed by commentators as a defining moment in Pakistan's women's rights history.
View details2026
Science
Commemorated for International Women's Day as a pioneering lighting engineer
Monica Maurice was honoured posthumously as an inspirational woman in the lighting and standards industry for International Women's Day.
View details