Rights groups and government organizations around the world are recognizing International Women’s Day on Friday. The day, March 8, is a celebration of women’s social, economic, cultural and political successes in the world, as well as a call for gender equality. It all began in 1908 in New York City. Thousands of female clothing workers went on strike and marched through the streets of the city. They were demanding better pay, shorter workdays and voting rights. In 1910, a German woman named Clara Zetkin suggested the declaration of a Women’s Day at an international meeting attended by 100 women. The idea received support from everyone there. Women’s Day was first celebrated in 1911 in Germany as well as Austria, Denmark and Switzerland. More than 1 million women and men attended demonstrations in support of a woman’s right to work, vote, study and hold public office.