International Women’s Day passed just over a month ago. On March 8th of every year people around the world commemorates the movement for women’s rights.

“It’s a national celebration of people who contributes and enhances our lives everyday,” senior Jasmine Mikhaylov said. “We are celebrate our mothers, our sisters, our daughters, all the women in our lives who are important to us and help us keep going.”

All over the world that day, countries celebrated by hosting different events such as Join Me On The Bridge in Albany, Australia where people donated toiletry items for the launch of Albany Women’s Center Kare Kits. In Buenos Aires, Argentina, a Global Mentoring Walk took place where mentors and those being mentored can walk together to share problems and solutions.

“I feel like there’s a lot of things in America that we don’t do along with the rest of the world. It’s a shame the way [America] treats or goes about things,” Mikhaylov said. “When I found out that in other countries, International Women’s Day is a big deal, but it’s no deal or no celebration about it or talk about it in the U.S., I wanted to bring that here and that’s why I consider it important.”

In Russia, multicolored chaos reigned across the country as people went to markets and booths to buy flowers for mothers, wives, daughters, sisters, and female friends.

“It’s a big deal [overseas]. I know for a fact that [people overseas] will give presents to each other. A father will give his wife and his daughter a present,” Mikhaylov said. “[For me], there’s so many women in my life that have helped me achieve [things in my life]. It’s so nice to go out, give them a flower, and make them smile.”

The start of International Women’s Day goes all the way back to the early 20th century, with strikes, protests, and rallies against employment and discrimination.

“With the oppression all around the world against women and in history, having a day to make women feel special and honor them is just nice,” Mikhaylov said. “So [Cathleen] and I give flowers to make people’s day [better].”

International Women’s Day not only celebrates the movement for women’s rights however. It also celebrates the social, economic, and political achievements of women in the world.

“When in history and in a lot of societies, [men have] been the winner for most [of the time], helping bring up minorities [and women] isn’t a bad thing,” Mikhaylov said. “It doesn’t diminish the states of [the] men just because [we] shine some light on women; it doesn’t mean that the men lose their power or their status.”

Instead, boosting everyone’s confidence is beneficial to all lives. In fact, “It’s important to where we celebrate the people in our lives that have more difficulty,” Mikhaylov said.