This past Saturday marked the 103rd annual International Women’s Day (IWD). On March 8, people across the globe celebrated women and recognized the steps taken on the path toward gender equality.

At McGill, women have come a long way in the last century. The first female students were admitted in 1884, 41 years after the first male students. Today, women make up 56 per cent of the student body.

However, IWD also highlights the challenges that women continue to face. Each year, Canada picks a theme for IWD, included ending violence against women, women’s rights, and women in leadership. This year, the theme for Canada’s IWD was “Canadian Women—Creating Jobs One Business at a Time,” to acknowledge women’s contributions in shaping the Canadian economy.