Celebrating Women’s Achievements on International Women’s Day

March 8th marks International Women’s Day, a date commemorating a pivotal moment in history: a 1917 protest by Russian women demanding “bread, and peace.” This demonstration led to the abdication of the Czar and, crucially, granted women the right to vote. The United Nations this year calls for “Rights. Justice. Action. For all women and girls.”

Spotlighting Strength and Resilience

In the spirit of those Russian women, International Women’s Day recognizes the achievements of women worldwide. Photographers from The Everyday Projects have captured portraits of women demonstrating determination and working to improve lives, both in large and small ways.

Preserving Cultural Legacy: Jean, the Chinese Opera Performer

Photographer Annice Lyn highlights the dedication of Jean, 72, a Chinese opera performer in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Lyn photographed Jean before a performance at Kwai Chai Hong, a restored heritage alley in Chinatown in August 2024. Chinese opera combines singing, acting, martial arts, elaborate costumes, and symbolic makeup to tell classical stories. Performers like Jean dedicate decades to mastering this art form, preserving techniques and stories centuries old. Lyn aimed to capture Jean’s dignity, beauty, and discipline, ensuring she felt seen and heard as a living cultural legacy.

A Hope for Sanitation: Nkgono Selina Mosima

Tshepiso Mabula’s portrait features Nkgono Selina Mosima, a resident of Thaba Nchu, Free State, South Africa, who dreamed of affording a pit toilet for her yard. Many residents in the region lack proper sanitation, often resorting to open defecation. Mabula was inspired by Mosima’s unwavering faith and optimism, framing the portrait to highlight her strength and hope. Mosima eventually secured the funds to build a pit toilet, becoming a voice for action and change.

Breaking Barriers: Russian Women in American Football

Photographer Kristina Brazhnikova documented an unlikely story: the formation of an American football league for women in Russia. Between 2018 and 2021, women of all ages and fitness levels participated, with coaching from the U.S. Women’s national football team. The Voronezh team, “Mighty Ducks,” found camaraderie and a new outlet for self-expression through the sport, with players reporting increased bravery and decisiveness. The league ceased operations in 2022.

Searching for the Missing: Hilaria Arzaba Medran

Hilaria Arzaba Medran, 57, is a member of Solecito, an organization of 250 people searching for missing relatives in Mexico. Photographed in February 2018, she was searching for her son, Oscar Contreras Arzaba, who disappeared in 2011. Solecito is primarily led by women who demonstrate courage and conviction in the face of violence and threat to their own well-being.

Fighting for Housing Rights: Janaina Xavier

Luca Meola’s photograph depicts Janaina Xavier, a community leader in São Paulo, Brazil, holding her son in an occupied building. Xavier advocates for the rights of people experiencing homelessness and participated in an occupation to secure housing. Despite being evicted in 2025, she continues to fight for housing rights.

Empowering Communities: The Reny Mahomby of Madagascar

Aina Zo Raberanto photographed the “Reny Mahomby,” or “mother leaders,” of the Grand South of Madagascar. These women inspire other mothers to improve their lives through hygiene, education, and entrepreneurship. Raberanto captured their strength, dignity, joy, and determination to build a better future for their children.

Demanding Recognition: Puta Davida in Rio de Janeiro

Luca Meola photographed members of Puta Davida, a feminist collective advocating for the labor and human rights of sex workers, during Carnival in Rio de Janeiro in February 2026. The collective challenges stigma and asserts the rights of sex workers, advocating for recognition of sex work as legitimate labor. Their participation in the Carnival parade symbolized their reclaiming of visibility and demanding justice.