March is Women’s History Month, which sadly (yet not surprisingly) goes unrecognized by most. Here are 10 things you can do to participate this great month.
1. Tell the women in your life how important they are. Call your mom or grandmother, talk to your sisters and friends. Remind them how strong they are and how much you appreciate their presence in your life! Us women often forget this amidst the chaos of daily life, and its always nice to remind your loved ones that they are, in fact, loved.
2. Read up on some powerful or influential women in historyWe must give recognition where recognition is due, and Women’s History Month is the perfect time to learn about some great historical women that lended to the progress in women’s status. Some interesting articles:
7 of the most amazing women you’ve never heard of
12 Historical Women Who Gave No F*cks
16 of History’s Most Rebellious Women–
3. All-Girls OutingsGo on a girls-only adventure with your best gal pals!
4. Compliment a friend or random girlYou know how good it feels to receive one, so spread the love! Making someone else smile is one of the best ways to make yourself feel great, too.
5. Treat yo self!Do something that makes you happy, just for the sake of it! Indulge in your favorite meal or dessert, devote a whole day to your favorite activity, or get all dressed up in your most confidence-boosting outfit. Whatever makes you feel great, go for it! You deserve it.
6. Get involvedTry helping out with a women’s organization or service project, or consider donating to a charity that focuses on women’s issues. Helping out your fellow females is a great way to celebrate Women’s History Month, while also being proactive and improving society. Here is a list of great organizations and causes to get you started.
7. Laugh!Take some time to appreciate the hilarity of the often under-recognized women of comedy. Saturday Night Live, Broad City, The Mindy Project, and Parks & Recreation are all shows that feature tremendously funny female characters.
8. Know the (hard) facts.Though we’ve come a long way in our country as far as gender equality goes, we still need to recognize the truth about women’s unequal status. Unequal pay, domestic violence, rape and sexual assault, destructive media representation, and countless more examples of ways in which women are at a disadvantage still plague our society. Being aware of these issues is the first step to changing them. Here are just a couple infographics that put things in perspective:
9. Get inspired by modern women-warriorsLearn about the kick-a** women who are currently working to change the world for us today. Find some inspiration in their fierceness, and take their philosophy of equality and empowerment into your own life. This is a great list, and here you can find an article about Malala Yousafzai, 2013 Nobel Peace Prize Winner.
10. Take some time to realize and appreciate your own power!When our society is constantly telling us that we are lesser, weaker, and secondary status, it is easy to internalize these ideas and forget to acknowledge the incredible strength and power within each of us, as women. Practice radical self-love, and understand your immense value and tremendous woman-power. Let’s hear it for the ladies!