It’s that wonderful time of the year again— International Women’s Month!
International Women’s Day is upon us! March 8th is the day we celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women” and initiate a “call to action for accelerating gender parity.” We come together to both commemorate what has already been done and make plans to continue the journey toward gender equality. However, I hope we all know the endeavors go farther than a day in March, even more than a month. It is a year-round every year kind of lifestyle.
This year the official theme is #BalanceforBetter. The campaign will run all year long. The theme focuses on the collective action steps taken to reinforce gender balance in all areas of life. As put on the official website, “Balance is not a women’s issue, it’s a business issue.” Female presence matters just as much in the community and economy as it matters in homes, schools, and workplace.
The thing to remember is that we all can play a part. Even if you simply spread the hashtag to increase awareness. This year, you can motivate others by striking the balance pose and posting it to your social media.
Super easy. Make sure to tag it with #BalanceforBetter and #IWD2019!
If you want to be more active and you aren’t sure how, here’s how you could make some small changes that cause ripples.
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Educate yourself. Not joking, the more you educate yourself, the more informed your decisions and conversations will be. You never know how your passion and knowledge could inspire someone else to get involved.
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Be attentive. Look for places in a discussion where a party might need some “persuading” to see the value of women and the implications of their presence or lack thereof. You can always bring some enlightenment into the discussion and pop some bubbles. You just need to be present and attentive to conversations and ask questions. People often say ignorant things without considering the implications, so be open to discussion.
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Make sure you don’t undermine your cause by being offensive to other women. This is a big no-no, but I hear women do it all the time. At this point, I’m not surprised when a man says something offensive, but really, sis? It’s your own people who can undo you. Be careful to not disrespect other women no matter their walk of life.
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You can start your own campaign. Look into your community. Where do you see women in need? What do they need? Gather some of your friends or seek out ways to meet these needs. Whether it means going to volunteer or donating pads to #EndPeriodPoverty.
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This goes along with the previous statement, but seriously, investigate your community. There are so many women shelters in the Hampton Roads to serve at and are probably in need of many things. Here’s a link to some shelters you might want to reach out to.
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Even if you don’t start your own campaign, you can always join someone else’s campaign. There are plenty out there for you to consider. It’s only a matter of choosing which one. With social media activism on the rise, you can participate in as many as you’d like.
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Inspire yourself and others to love themselves and take care of themselves. Because you matter. They matter. All women matter. Have a face mask night, compliment her flawless brows, ask her about her unique taste in fashion. Treat yourself and others gently.
#EverydayisIWD
All quotes from: https://www.internationalwomensday.com/Theme