Every March, the global community celebrates International Women’s Day.
It’s a time to celebrate the strengths and accomplishments of women across a spectrum of areas, such as politics, culture, economics, and human progress. But why is International Women’s Day so important?
The answer is simple. We’re half of the human population.
As women, we contribute our unique gifts as mothers, artists, thinkers, leaders, and so much more. As moms, we project deep interpersonal care and values into the next generation. As creative beings, workers, thinkers, and more, we express and promote so much that matters to humanity.
Today is the perfect day to celebrate women in our lives and history. If you’re looking for ideas, here are ten ways to embrace International Women’s Day in our homes and communities.
Attend an International Women’s Day Event.
Because women comprise at least half of the human family, many issues interest and affect us. These include addressing the gender gap, developing and cultivating our talents, creating opportunities for growth outside and inside our homes, and much more. The International Women’s Day website has a great list of worldwide in-person and virtual events that highlight opportunities and causes for women around the world.
Women who Lead: Connecting women Veterans and non-Veterans ->
Embracing Community: A Discussion with Transformational Women Leaders ->
Together WE Ride: A virtual bike ride for Equity, Inclusion, and Positive Social Change ->
Celebrate the women in your life.
We’ve been celebrating International Women’s Day across the globe for over a century. Since 1910, groups around the world have taken this opportunity to not only recognize the women who are close to each of our hearts, our mothers and sisters, and more, but also those who have enlightened us all, created great art, contributed to industry, economies, and leadership. It’s mother’s day, sister’s day, and a day for every woman who has contributed in her own way across time and geography.
To celebrate the women in your life, you and your family might take some time to send a “Thank You” card or message to a woman (or women) who have made a positive impact on your life, including:
- Teachers
- Grandmothers
- Aunts
- Mentors
- Sisters
Brush up on women’s history.
We must remember the strong and resilient women prominent in history, technology, art, literature, and more. We may focus on great leaders such as President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Emmeline Pankhurst, Grace Lee Boggs, Marie Curie, Miriam Makeba, and many more. You could spend far more than one day just learning about the accomplishments of these women. Just imagine what we can learn from the many other great female contributors to human progress.
Grab a paperback, load your e-reader, or push play on an audiobook this afternoon. Here are some of our favorites:
Women in Sports: 50 Fearless Athletes Who Played to Win ->
Women in White Coats: How the First Women Doctors Changed the World of Medicine ->
Add some female-focused podcasts to your queue.
International Women’s Day is not just about one day. Many of today’s female thought leaders are taking to the podcast waves for meaningful and entertaining conversations on the topics that matter every day. If you’re looking for inspiration, humor, stories, or relaxation, add one or more of these to your queue:
We can do Hard Things with Glennon Doyle ->
Support a cause.
One of the most important ways we can serve and promote the causes and issues related to women’s needs is by raising funds and awareness for causes that impact our lives. So on International Women’s Day, consider donating to an important initiative or volunteering your time and skills.
Women’s Global Empowerment Fund ->
Do something educational AND creative.
International Women’s Day is an opportunity for teachers, educators, and schools, in general, to teach our children about the many accomplishments and virtues of women all over the world. Set up activities encouraging your children to learn and report on an important female figure in a fun and creative way.
- Make a poster or banner
- Read a favorite poem by a female author
- Do a science experiment
- Act out a scene from history
Support female-owned brands and organizations.
Every day, women are making an impact in social and economical ways. When we see a need, we find ways to meet it through communication, product improvement, or pure invention. So on this International Women’s Day, support the brands that make our lives easier, including those owned, founded, or operated by women.
Set some personal goals.
International Women’s Day is a chance for us to reflect on our lives and families and how the women in our lives have been critical at every juncture. Set some goals for the ways you hope to inspire, encourage, and support your own family and community. These don’t have to be world-changing goals. Every woman has an opportunity to pave the way to the future through the things she does at home.
- Set a good example by volunteering in your community.
- Commit to your personal growth by creating a reading list.
- Grab a new journal and schedule daily reflection time.
- Learn a new skill.
This is International Women’s Day – so take care of YOU.
Finally, International Women’s Day is a day to celebrate the progress and growth of all women, including YOU! Whether you’re working out of the home, staying home to raise young kids, running a business, or teaching homeschool, take some time to celebrate yourself by doing one thing just for you.
- Take a bubble bath
- Go for a long walk yourself or with a friend
- Talk to a friend or family member on the phone just for fun
- Make yourself a favorite treat
