Every year on March 8, International Women's Day is celebrated to honour women worldwide. In this regard, how could the search engine Google lag behind? Today (March 8, 2025), to celebrate International Women's Day, Google has created a special doodle to recognise the contributions of women in STEM fields. The United Nations first celebrated this day in 1975 to highlight the importance of women's contributions across the globe.
Google's Special Doodle for Women in STEM
"Our doodles honour visionary women in STEM fields," Google stated in a blog post. The doodle artwork highlights the groundbreaking contributions of women who revolutionised space exploration, made remarkable ancient discoveries, and pioneered laboratory research that shaped our understanding of physics, chemistry, and biology. However, these achievements represent only a fraction of the contributions made by women in science, the blog post added.
The doodle also emphasises that while women's contributions reflect ongoing progress towards gender equality, STEM remains one of the fields with a significant gender gap. It pointed out that currently, women make up only 29 percent of the global STEM workforce, though this number is steadily increasing. Google noted that International Women's Day serves as a powerful reminder of the impact women have had on history.
Significance of International Women’s Day
The doodle further highlights that women's collective achievements have helped shape the world we live in today, enabling us to enjoy modern advancements and innovations. International Women's Day was first celebrated in India in 1914 in Pune. The day gained prominence during the freedom struggle, when women actively participated in movements and protests.
‘Also Read | We Bow to Our Nari Shakti’: PM Modi Wishes on International Women’s Day 2025 (Watch Video).
This year's theme calls for action to ensure equal rights, power, and opportunities for all, while also striving to build a feminist future where no one is left behind. A key focus is on empowering the next generation—especially young women and adolescent girls—as catalysts for lasting change.
Historical Origins of Women’s Day
March 8 marks the anniversary of two early Women's Day demonstrations—one in St. Petersburg and the other in New York City. Despite being held in different years and places, both rallies had the same goal: advocating for gender equality, including fair and safe working conditions, voting rights, and the opportunity to hold public office.
On March 19, 1911, Women’s Day was celebrated in Austria, Denmark, Germany, and Switzerland, where more than a million people took part in rallies demanding women's rights, including the right to vote, to hold public office, and to work without discrimination.
In 1917, one of the most significant moments in Women's Day history occurred in St. Petersburg, Russia, when female workers led a strike for "bread and peace" during World War I. This protest ignited the Russian Revolution, eventually leading to women gaining suffrage. As a result, in 1921, March 8 was officially declared a national holiday in the Soviet Union.