Last week celebrated International Women’s Day in this year’s Women’s History Month. International Women’s Day (March 8) is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender equality. I’m seeing articles everywhere championing us all to “Be Bold for Change.” It’s awesome.
My journey to being passionate about International Women’s Day began in early 2015 when I participated in a webinar celebrating women and their accomplishments.
That webinar led to a very powerful life experience for me when I went to London, England for an international women’s conference on trailblazing leadership . Check out my post-UK blog post here: Life along the Thames River: My first trip to London
The rise of women does not mean the fall of men. If the definition of feminism is “the belief that men and women should have equal rights and opportunities,” then feminism is not a nasty, scary or dirty word. It’s a powerful word.
All of us are the better for it when we see injustice or unfair treatment in any capacity to help make a change.
As part of Women’s History Month there have been several movements like “Day Without A Woman,” for example. I checked out the International Women’s Day website and got some fantastic calls to action that I wanted to share for how we can all (men and women) be more bold for equal rights and opportunities.
How will you #BeBoldForChange?
Here are the 5 categories that the International Women’s Day site focused on with a few option actions to get started. These can be carried through Women’s History Month and beyond!
1. I’ll challenge bias and inequality
Options:
- query all-male speaking panels
- pull people up on exclusive language
- challenge stereotypes
- call it out when women are excluded
- monitor the gender pay gap
- point out bias and highlight alternatives
- call for diverse candidate shortlists
- embrace inclusive leadership
- redefine the status quo
2. I’ll campaign against violence
Options:
- educate youth about positive relationships
- challenge those who justify perpetrators and blame victims
- donate to groups fighting abuse
- speak out against the silence of violence
- be vigilant and report violence
- campaign for the prevention of violence
- abstain from all violence, physical and otherwise
- volunteer your help at a local charity
- recognize coercive control and redress it
3. I’ll forge women’s advancement
Options:
- decide to buy from companies that support women
- choose to work for a progressive employer for women
- support or back a woman-owned business
- take a junior female colleague to a major meeting or event
- build conducive, flexible work environments
- appoint a woman to the board
- mentor a woman and sponsor her goals
- invite women into situations where they’re not already present or contributing
- measure and report on gender parity gaps and keep gender on the agenda
- create new opportunities for women
4. I’ll celebrate women’s achievement
Options:
- raise women’s visibility as spokespeople in the media
- drive fairer recognition and credit for women’s contributions
- launch even more awards showcasing women’s success
- hail the success of women leaders
- applaud social, economic, cultural and political women role models
- celebrate women’s journeys and the barriers overcome
- reinforce and support women’s triumphs
5. I’ll champion women’s education
Options:
- launch or fund a women-focused scholarship
- encourage more girls into STEM education and careers
- value diversity for greater educational outcomes
- support women inventors of new products and services
- celebrate women researchers discovering new knowledge
- learn to code
For your friends, your mothers, your daughters, your wives, your sisters, yourselves…How will you be Bold for Change?
Life Untangled 