Happy International Women’s Day! March 8th is celebrated worldwide as a day for conversation and action. If you’re looking for ways to come together to safely celebrate women’s achievements and rally for women’s equality, here are 8 ways you can play your part.
Use the hashtag #ChooseToChallenge
The International Women’s Day theme for 2021 is #ChooseToChallenge, highlighting the importance of forging an inclusive, gender-equal world. Use #ChooseToChallenge and #IWD2021 on your social media accounts to help spread awareness to your online community!
Advocate for gender equality in your workplace
Now more than ever, it’s important to take action and ensure your company is creating an inclusive work environment. Here’s how to start:
- Sharing and listening to women’s stories
- Finding ways to mentor women
- Notice and correct any instances of unconscious bias
- Reviewing and revamping your company culture
Support women-owned businesses
If you have a favourite woman-owned business, make an effort to cross-promote them on social media or purchase a product. You can also search up female-owned businesses in your community and show them some love!
Celebrate this day with women you love and admire
Schedule a zoom wine-night or virtual lunch with the women in your circle. Talk about your wins, your losses, ask how you can support one another and just celebrate being amazing humans in such an unprecedented time. Sometimes simple words of encouragement can go a long way.
Learn about impactful women
Find time to read a book by a feminist icon. Bring your highlighter in hand and learn about Betty Friedan, Gloria Steinman, Simone de Beauvoir to name a few.
Think of a few ways to lift women up today
Women supporting women is a beautiful thing. We tend to forget what a simple “thank you” note can do to someone’s day. We suggest sending an email, text, or a hand-written card to your circle of girlfriends and mentors to let them know what you admire and love about them!
Listen to an IWD playlist of amazing female artists!
Spotify has some pretty amazing playlists. Get your morning started listening to some #girlboss music.
Spend it alone and celebrate the woman you are and how far you’ve come
Celebrate yourself! Run a bubble bath, journal, order take-out, drink some bubbly and reflect on how far you’ve come in your journey. You deserve it.
Awareness is only half the battle. Women are paid on average 24 per cent less than men. A third of women globally will experience violence in their lifetime by the hands of someone they know. Continue to listen, share, read, and make noise not just today but everyday.
Happy International Women’s Day 2021!