International Women's Day

International Women's Day

General Information about Women's Day

International Women's Day is celebrated every year on March 8. In Europe, it was first celebrated in March 1911 in Denmark, Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Switzerland as a day to fight for women's suffrage, higher wages, and shorter working hours. The demand for free, secret, and equal voting rights for women was fulfilled in Austria on November 12, 1918.

International Women's Day addresses the multiple discrimination and exploitation of women and girls worldwide. It is an annual occasion to highlight discrimination, but also to call for a life free from gender roles and self-determined living, as well as to make women's contributions visible and recognized.

Women's Day and WU

At WU, International Women's Day is used to focus on the state of gender equality. We also take a look back at the pioneers of women in business and draw connections to contemporary women and their achievements.

International Women's Day 2025

On the occasion of International Women's Day 2025, we will distribute bags featuring a quote from Zaha Hadid as a sign of appreciation and as an inspiration to reflect on gender stereotypes in the workplace.

„Would they call me a diva if I were a guy?“

Zaha Hadid (1950-2016) was a renowned architect who designed the WU Library & Learning Centre, among other things. In 2004, she was the first woman in the world to receive the most prestigious honour in architecture, the Pritzker Prize.

Bag with quote

Past Women's Days

Bearbeitetes WC-Piktogramm mit der Bildunterschrift "look behind the stereotypes"

2024 - Gender Gap in financial literacy

2023 - Exceptional female graduates of WU

2022 - Margarethe Ottillinger - Let me work!

2021 - More women on Wikipedia

2020 - Work, close to life – Käthe Leichter and Marie Jahoda

2019 - Women in the startup scene

2018 - Pioneering Women at WU

2017 - Ms. Diplom-Kaufmann and Other Pioneers

2016 - Look beyond the stereotypes!

2015 - Hall of Femmes