Every year on March 8th, the world pays homage to the women who have paved the way for gender equality and those who are making a difference today. Women across the globe have long fought for social, economic, cultural and political equality. These social movements have contributed to the advancement of women in society, and International Women’s Day is a time to celebrate that.

“A balanced world is a better world,” according to the Organization for International Women’s Day. “How can you help forge a more gender-balanced world? Celebrate women’s achievement. Raise awareness against bias. Take action for equality.”

International Women’s Day emerged from the American Socialist Party in 1909. Clara Zetkin, a member of the Socialist Party in Germany, proposed that the day become a worldwide celebration. The suggestion was unanimously approved and in 1913, International Women’s Day was declared universally as March 8th every year in every country.

Iowa State is doing its part to celebrate International Women’s Day as well. University President Wendy Wintersteen offered her experience as a woman in the STEM field Monday. In addition, on Wednesday, the campus held Women’s Empowerment night, which featured a panel of women who shared their experiences as females in the professional workplace.

Beate Schmittmann is the dean of Liberal Arts and Sciences and has first-hand experience as a female in the workplace. Schmittman is originally from Germany but found her way to Iowa State for what she calls a chance to make a greater impact.

“I wanted to make a difference on a larger scale, so I accepted a position at Iowa State,” Schmittmann said. “At Iowa State, I feel I have the responsibility to represent everyone, provide everyone with equal opportunities for advancement and an equal salary, and to be an advocate for everyone. Every student deserves to receive appropriate mentoring.”

Schmittmann knows the importance of representation and equality first hand, she said.

“I spent a large portion of my career as a woman in physics,” Schmittmann said. “I was in the underrepresented group. When you look around, and no one looks like you, it becomes discouraging.”

Because of Schmittmann’s experience being in the underrepresented group, she can recognize the importance of days like International Women’s Day.

“International Women’s Day is important because it offers a moment for us to pause, reflect, look at where we’ve been as women, how far we’ve come, and where we want to go.”

Aziza Cyamani is a graduate student in Industrial Design and Sustainable Environments, who came to Iowa State from Rowanda for graduate school. Cyamani is involved with the YWCA on campus as well as the Ames International Women’s Day Coalition. She calls her experience as a female at Iowa State positive as well as a learning experience.

“I’ve loved being involved and engaged in conversations about equality at Iowa State,” Cyamani said. “International Women’s Day is not a day for women, it’s a day for equality. It’s a day for everyone.”

Cyamani says that International Women’s Day is important because it starts a dialogue and shows people the work that still can be done.

“Everyone can do something,” Cyamani said. “If you’re a man, show up and listen. If you’re a woman, vote, participate somehow. Talking about it is great, but taking action is better.”

Through Cyamani’s work with the YWCA and the Ames IWDC, she has helped organize several events in celebration of International Women’s Day. Friday at the Ames Public Library will be a panel discussion on increasing representation of women in politics, where they will open a time-capsule from the 2014 IWDC.

The slogan for this year’s International Women’s Day campaign is, “Better Balanced.” A theme the Organization for International Women’s Day said they chose to promote the idea that International Women’s Day is for men and women.

‘Everyone has a part to play, all of the time, everywhere,” according to the Organization for International Women’s Day.

The Organization for International Women’s Day also does work to promote their campaign all year long, not just March 8th.

“The race is on for a gender-balanced boardroom, a gender-balanced government, gender-balanced media coverage, a gender-balance of employees, more gender-balance in wealth, gender-balanced sports coverage,” according to the Organization for International Women’s Day. “Gender balance is essential for economies and communities to thrive. Every day, not just March 8th.”