1) California celebrated its first International Women’s Day on March 8, 1911, following the lead of countries around the world in recognizing the economic, political, and social achievements of women.

2) On March 8, 1857, a group of female garment workers in New York City staged a protest demanding better working conditions and equal rights. This event is now considered a precursor to International Women’s Day.

3) In 1972, the California State University system established the first Women’s Studies program in the country at San Diego State University.

4) On March 8, 2017, the “Day Without a Woman” strike took place, with women around the country walking off their jobs and refraining from making purchases, in protest of gender inequality and discrimination.

5) In recent years, California has seen significant progress on women’s rights issues, including the signing of a bill in 2018 mandating gender diversity on corporate boards and a ban on salary history inquiries during the hiring process.