在1967年之前,这一天一直是communist国家的主要节日,直到1967年左右,第二波女权主义运动的推动下才把这一天作为世界性的节日。有时在欧洲被称为“妇女国际斗争日 Women's International Day of Struggle”。在20世纪70年代和80年代起,妇女团体与leftists和劳工组织一起,呼吁同工同酬、平等经济机会、平等法律权利、生殖权利、补贴托儿服务和防止暴力侵害妇女行为等。
p1 Women marching on International Women's Day in Petrograd (St Petersburg), 1917; p2 German poster for International Women's Day, March 8, 1914. 德国妇女节海报,被当时的德意志帝国禁止; p3 Alexandra Kollontai; p4 A 1932 poster shows the political origins of International Women's Day. The text reads: "March 8: A day of rebellion by working women against kitchen slavery. Say no to the oppression and vacuity of household work!" 海报上写道:"3月8日:劳动妇女反抗厨房奴隶制的日子。向家务劳动的压迫和空虚说不!" p5 Poster for Women's Day March in London 英国妇女节海报, 1975; p6 vintage Soviet-era cards celebrating March 8th.