5 Ways to Celebrate International Women’s Day
For over a century, March 8th has been a day to celebrate and empower women all over the globe. It’s a day where we remember influential women throughout history, shout about women’s achievements and continue to promote gender equality for every woman on the planet. But what can you do to get involved at home? Take a look at these 5 ideas for some inspiration.
1. Wear Purple
One really easy way to show your support for IWD is to don your most dramatic purple outfit. The suffrage movement adopted purple as part of their identity back in the early 20th century and it’s still the colour of IWD to this day.
Try throwing the conventions of women’s fashion out the window by wearing a funky purple suit or else you can stick to a simple purple T-Shirt. Whatever works for you.
If your wardrobe is a purple free zone then we do have some mini Venus stud earrings that give a cute nod to the day.
2. Read, Watch and Listen to your Favourite Women.
Fill your day with incredible women by supporting films and books with strong female voices. There are so many amazing female authors (from both past and present) that you’ll be spoilt for choice! If you’re looking for a great film to watch then you can’t go wrong with 2015’s Suffragette. With a female director and a cast that includes a whole host of formidable actresses like Carey Mulligan, Helena Bonham Carter and Meryl Streep we can’t think of a better choice for IWD!
And what about whilst you’re working? Make the most of being at home and stick on a Spotify playlist full of epic female artists for a bit of motivation.
3. Celebrate All the Amazing Women In Your Life.
Reach out to all of the influential women in your life and tell them something that you admire about them. It might be something as simple as an email to your colleagues saying how much you appreciate their support. Or a longer letter to your closest friends and family outlining their strengths to really celebrate their achievements.
4. Donate to a Women’s Charity
Consider contributing to a cause that supports women’s issues. For a UK based charity, check out Girls Out Loud who aim to improve the confidence and self-esteem of teenage girls. Or maybe Women’s Aid which offers a life-saving service for women and children living with domestic abuse.
If you’re looking for a charity that campaigns for direct action for women’s equality globally then consider the Malala Fund. Founded by Student and Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai, the fund invests in programmes that ensure each and every girl has access to safe, quality education.
5. Get Involved on Social Media
And finally, if you want to show your support for International Women’ Day on social media then get involved with the #ChooseToChallenge campaign. All you need to do is take a photo of yourself with your hand raised in the air to show that you pledge to challenge and call out gender bias and inequality. Upload your snap to any social media platform using #ChooseToChallenge and #IWD2021. You could even get your colleagues or friends involved by taking a group shot over zoom. And remember, there’s no reason why men can’t show their solidarity too.