March 8 marks the 103rd year in which women across the globe have celebrated International Women’s Day. Each year, thousands of events are held to inspire women and celebrate the achievements of women past and present. The holiday used to be recognized politically, allowing many women to take the day off as a way to catch up on their personal R&R’s. But while I wouldn’t recommend for any student to skip class in order to exercise her appreciation of women everywhere, I do think that there a few fun ideas out there for us collegiettes to take part in and show the rest of the world that being a woman rocks!
Rock the Red
Lipstick that is! Red lipstick is one of the sexiest and most classic items that almost any woman should have in her personal makeup collection. Red lips symbolize, to most people, daring and fearless women who like to use the lipstick as a way to signal their own confidences. Last year for International Women’s Day, women all around the world united for what was known as the Rock the Lips campaign, which allowed women of all ages to celebrate their femininity by creating a sea of red lips that brought awareness to the holiday in a very fun and creative way. Youtube Makeup Guru, Michelle Phan, even promoted the campaign last year with a video of nine different ways to rock the red lipstick. If you choose to rock the lips this year, check the video out for some ideas on creating your perfect “power pout”.
Go Natural
The issue with makeup has been drawn out longer than some of us have even been alive. A lot of men out there have no problem with women wearing makeup, but there are just as many men that prefer fresher faces. Even certain women feel as though wearing makeup tends to come off as being “dishonest”. Those who aren’t very big fans of makeup believe that the best way to celebrate being a woman is to simply go natural. Show everyone out there, man and woman, that you’re just as beautiful on the outside as you are on the inside and that you don’t need makeup to make yourself feel like a woman. Even if you wear makeup daily, try to take the challenge and embrace your natural beauty!
Wear Stilettos
I think we can all agree that nothing is sexier than a woman who knows how to work a fabulous pair of stilettos. Stilettos and pumps have been a symbol of femininity and power ever since women “swagger-jacked” the idea from men long ago. (Yes, men were the first to wear heels!) When it comes to women and stilettos, most people are attracted to the dominating and confident attitude that comes with wearing the heel itself. So one very powerful way to show off your girly-pride is to get out and rock a sexy pump, whether you’re on your way to work, class, or a night on the town. Confidence is Beautiful has put together a campaign for celebrating International Women’s Day by asking women, and even men, to put on a pair of stilettos and to take a picture for Twitter and Instagram with the tag #ConfidenceIsBeautiful. If you’re up for this challenge, go ahead and tag #HerCampusUGA while you’re at it; rummage your closets for your finest pair and show us your pumps!
Bring it to Social Media
Think of an influential woman in your life, whether it’s your mom, your sister, or any other woman that has ever inspired you, and make that woman’s picture your Twitter or Facebook profile picture. Let these women, and all of your friends, know that you appreciate them and that they can make a difference in your life no matter what they do.
Watch a Chick Flick
But you might want to hold the girly. There’s nothing like an actress that can pull off the role of a female showing exactly what women are made of and why we’re so awesome. Whether it’s fictional or autobiographical, a movie with a strong female lead can feel empowering for anyone to watch. Suggestions? Try Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (or Vol.2). As violent as the movie series was, Uma Thurman definitely made getting left at the alter look cool. For a more subtle approach, you can also try Pretty Woman. A woman can never go wrong with a little Julia Roberts; what other hooker can make a millionaire fall madly in love with her?
Give a Little
There are tons of organizations out there that raise money to promote the awareness of women’s rights. Do some research on women’s charity organizations, find your favorite one, and donate something. Every little bit counts! Looking pretty to celebrate the occasion is all good, but there’s nothing like the feeling of doing something to help other women around the world that truly need it. As a simple head start, look into V-Day, an organization working to end violence against girls and women. Or if you want to donate but you’re not sure where to give, consider the Women’s Funding Network (WFN), an organization that provides a wide variety of organizations for girls and women with millions of dollars every year. It’s all up to you. Make a difference this International Women’s Day.
What are some other ways that you might want to celebrate International Women’s Day? Let us know!