International Women’s Day (IWD)is onMarch 8, and people all around the world are gearing up to celebrate the achievements of women, as well as recognizethe need for gender equality across the globe.
The first IWD occurred in 1911 in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland. More than one million people gathered to rally for women’s rights to work, vote, and hold public office, among other civil liberties.
Today, IWD continues to encourage action that advances women’s rights. Thousands of events take place worldwide to mark theeconomic, political and social gains of women, and to raise collective awareness for the continued plight of womenin societies where gender inequality is the norm.
Not surprisingly, many powerfulcivil liberties activists also advocate animal rights, and adopt vegan and vegetarian diets for health, ethical and environmental reasons. At Tofutti, we salute women, past and present, who have influencedgender equality and the humane treatment of animals. Below is a list of just a few of these remarkable women:
Susan B. Anthony
Anthony was an American slavery abolitionist and pioneering feminist who campaigned for women’s suffrage – the legal right for women to vote. She supported the 19th century animal welfare movement, and was a regular attendee at American Vegetarian Society meetings. She was also the first woman, and only vegetarian, to be minted on American currency – the Susan B. Anthony dollar coin.
Coretta Scott King
Coretta Scott King was the wife of Martin Luther King Jr., and was an active advocate of women’s rightsand non-violent social change. Scott King was also an accomplished professional singer, lecturer, and author, and adhered to a vegan diet during the last decade of her life.
Venus Williams
A tennis legend and poster woman for just how performance enhancing plant-based diets can be, Williams has been touted a feminist for speaking out against sexism in her sport. Because of Williams, women Wimbledon winners now receive equal prize money at theinternational competition.
Ellen DeGeneres
A lover of all living things, talk-show host and comedian DeGeneres switched to veganism after researching factory farms and their treatment of animals. As well as animal welfare, DeGeneres is also an outspoken advocate of same-sex marriage. She, along with her long-time partner, Portia de Rossi, served an all-vegan menu at their 2008 wedding.