Costa Rica Celebrates International Women’s Day

Costa Rica joins the world in celebrating International Women’s Day. Young, old, brown, white, and yellow women come together from all points of the globe to celebrate the achievements, struggles, work and lives of women. Women gather to form a chorus of voices expressing solidarity in achieving gender equity. The day honors the achievements and contributions of women to the world economy, culture, and society. It celebrates the many achievements of women. International Women’s Day is one of the few truly global holidays. The first International Women’s Day was celebrated in 1910 in Copenhagen. In 1975, the United National recognized the day, and by 2001 the day was in full force as a global holiday.

The day is a remembrance of the push to keep moving forward to improve the quality of life for women and honor life. It’s a day when women celebrate all things female. From weavers to mothers to CEOs, women take pride in their work. The work women do both inside and outside the home. As mothers, grandmothers, daughters, students, workers and leaders, women form the binding force holding communities together. Whatever role whether in the paid or unpaid labor force, women’s work is vital to our social well-being. Across cultures, religions and nation states, women celebrate the unique gender experiences they share as well as the struggles they endure.

Costa Rica ranks as one of the leading Latin American countries for female entrepreneurs. The country has made great strides towards gender equity in recent years. Currently, women attain 63% of university degrees. Far more women are college graduates than men. Yet, women encounter a much higher unemployment rate than men. On average, they also earn 28% less than men. Equal pay for equal work is a struggle woman share throughout the world. According to the World Bank, women in Costa Rica reinvest 90% of their income back into their city, community, education and health. A rate far higher rate than men. Costa Rica is a leading Latin American country in gender equity.

In Costa Rica and throughout the world, women march today to raise awareness around the challenges women face. From exploitation to trafficking to education to equal pay, women gather together as a force in the streets forming a powerful chorus that echoes around the earth. This day honors their beauty and power from the very young to the very old. Today is about thanking your mother, daughter, wife and grandmother for their many contributions and gifts. International Women’s Day reminds us that all women are unique, valuable and visible.