March 8

Blue text on gold with an illustration of a white dove with a blue female symbol with a blue background

International Women’s Day has been celebrated in the United States since 1909. Despite its socialist roots, the holiday has become a rallying point for suffragettes, women’s rights advocates, and anti-war activists. In 1917, as World War I made basic goods increasingly difficult to obtain, Russian women protested for “Bread and Peace” on March 8. The UN later adopted this date as International Women’s Day.

The dove emblem is possibly a reference to peace, in keeping with the day’s association with anti-war causes. The logo featured on the bottom of the button is that of the Public Service Alliance of Canada (Alliance de la Fonction publique du Canada). Today, the union represents workers in federal agencies throughout Canada.