ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND AROUND THE WORLD, THOUSANDS CAME TOGETHER, TO HONOR THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF WOMEN.
HELLO EVERYONE. I’M RICK JACKSON. THANKS FOR JOINING US TODAY.
PEOPLE AND GOVERNMENTS OBSERVED INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY ACROSS THE GLOBE WITH AN OUTPOURING OF SUPPORT FOR WOMEN’S EQUALITY AND EMPOWERMENT.
WITH ROOTS DATING BACK TO THE EARLY 1900’S, MANY NATIONS, LIKE RUSSIA AND CHINA OBSERVE MARCH 8TH AS A NATIONAL HOLIDAY. BUT THE DAY ALSO MARKS A CALL FOR ACTION TO ADVANCE GENDER EQUALITY, AND MANY MEN AND WOMEN THROUGHOUT THE WORLD TOOK TO THE STREETS IN SUPPORT.
FROM MEXICO, TO THE EUROPEAN COUNTRY OF GEORGIA, TO BRAZIL, DEMONSTRATIONS WERE HELD IN SUPPORT OF WOMEN’S RIGHTS.
THE UNITED NATIONS HELD THEIR OWN SERIES OF EVENTS IN SUPPORT OF UNIVERSAL PAID PARENTAL LEAVE, WHICH MEANS THAT NEW MOTHERS AND FATHERS CAN TAKE TIME OFF FROM WORK - TO CARE FOR THEIR CHILDREN.
ACTRESS ANNE HATHAWAY GAVE THE KEYNOTE.
[ANNE HATHAWAY CLIP]
HERE IN THE U-S, DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS CAME TOGETHER…. IN APPRECIATION OF WOMEN.
FIRST LADY MELANIA TRUMP MARKED THE OCCASION BY HOSTING A WHITE HOUSE LUNCHEON.
BUT AMID THE CELEBRATIONS, PROTESTS BREWED. SOME WOMEN TOOK PART IN A DAY WITHOUT WOMEN – WHICH CALLED ON AMERICAN WOMEN TO PARTICIPATE IN A NATIONAL STRIKE BY TAKING THE DAY OFF FROM WORK - AND NOT SHOPPING.
[PAOLA MENDOZA CLIP]
LUCKILY FOR ME, OUR COMMITTED NEWSDEPTH STAFF REPORTED TO WORK – OTHERWISE I’D BE STANDING IN A DARK STUDIO BY MYSELF WITH VERY LITTLE TO SAY!
WHILE SOME WOMEN AIMED TO CALL ATTENTION TO THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS IN THE WORKFORCE, A LITTLE GIRL STOOD HER GROUND ON WALL STREET…
OK, IT’S ACTUALLY A STATUE OF A LITTLE GIRL.
AN INVESTMENT FIRM PUT THIS STATUE UP - ON NEW YORK’S WALL STREET. SHE STANDS RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE ICONIC BRONZE CHARGING BULL, WHICH REPRESENTS THE STRENGTH OF THE U-S STOCK MARKET.
IT LOOKS LIKE THE LITTLE GIRL IS STARING THE ANIMAL DOWN.
THE STATUE IS TITLED "FEARLESS GIRL."
THE COMPANY BEHIND IT, STATE STREET GLOBAL ADVISORS, SAYS IT IS MEANT TO CALL ATTENTION TO THE LACK OF GENDER DIVERSITY ON CORPORATE BOARDS.
THE BRONZE STATUE, BY THE ARTIST KRISTEN VISBAL, WILL BE IN PLACE FOR ONE WEEK.
ANOTHER COMPANY DECIDED INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY WAS THE PERFECT TIME FOR A BIG ANNOUNCEMENT: THE WORKING WOMEN OF NASA WILL GO FROM HIDDEN FIGURES -- TO LEGO FIGURES.
THAT’S RIGHT, EVERYONE’S FAVORITE BUILDING BLOCKS WILL HAVE A NEW SET FOCUSING ON THE PIONEERING WOMEN OF THE U-S SPACE PROGRAM! MARY MALONEY HAS MORE.
"EVERYTHING IS COOL WHEN YOU'RE PART OF A TEAM." MEET THE NEW LEGO TEAM -- THE WOMEN OF NASA. THE LEGO FIGURES WILL FEATURE A FORMER HIDDEN FIGURE -- KATHERINE JOHNSON. "KATHERINE IS THE GAL FOR THAT. SHE CAN HANDLE ANY NUMBERS YOU PUT IN FRONT OF HER." DURING HER TIME AT NASA -- JOHNSON HELPED PUT MEN ON THE MOON. "THAT'S JOHN GLEN." "WHAT DO YOU GALS DO FOR NASA?" "CALCULATE YOUR LAUNCH AND LANDING SIR." THE SET WILL ALSO SHOWCASE SALLY RIDE -- THE FIRST AMERICAN WOMAN IN SPACE. AND MAE JEMISON -- THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMAN IN SPACE. BUT YOU'LL HAVE TO WAIT BEFORE ADDING THESE LADIES TO YOUR LEGO BATMAN COLLECTION. "I CAN'T WAIT" LEGO IS STILL FIGURING OUT THE PRICE AND FINAL DESIGN OF THE LADIES WHO
ROCK OUTER SPACE TOYS.
Instructional Links
International Women’s Day
Website: International Women’s Day
Website Article: Time for Kids, Celebrating Women's History
Background and history of day and month
Website Article: Newsela, Women Go On Strike Around The World To Make Their Voices Heard
Lcviled articles with quiz. May need to sign in.
NY Girl Statue
Website Article: Bridge Puglia USA, A New York Story, How the Charging Bull “Chose” Wall Street
Video: Smithsonian, The Story of the Wall Street Bull
Website Article: New York Times, A Girl Stands Firm on Wall Street
Includes history of Elizabeth Jennings Graham, who helped integrate NY mass transit in 1850s.
Includes list of facts on gender inequities
Consumer Watch NASA Women Legos
Website Article: Newsela, New Lego Characters Will Be Women Who Have Worked for NASA
Lcviled articles with quiz. May need to sign in.
Website Article: Lego Ideas, Women of NASA
Interactive Website: NASA, Women’s Achievements in Aviation and Space
Online exhibit. Click rooms for information.