Dear COE faculty and staff,
International Women's Day is March 8 and it has been observed in some shape or form since 1911, and was officially recognized by the UN in 1977. Schools, universities and local governments came to realize that this period of time allowed them to not only celebrate the achievements of women, but look critically at equality and opportunities for women, and educate people on women's history. It was only a matter of time before the week became a month. As momentum and awareness for gender equity and women’s identity and rights grew, congress declared March 1987 as the first official Women's History Month. How do we inclusively celebrate Women’s History Month in 2021, recognizing diversity, equity, and inclusion for all women, including our LGTBQIA+ community? LiveYourDream.org offers all of us 15 ways to celebrate Women’s History Month 2021 through self-care acts for yourself, other women, and from those in our lives who recognize and honor women. Here they are:
1. Explore the history of women’s rights. The theme of Women’s History Month 2021 is “Choose to Challenge,” acknowledging that while we’ve made significant progress to advance women’s rights, there’s still problems we need to challenge, such as learning about the history of women from diverse backgrounds. If you don’t know the history of all women’s rights, now’s a perfect time to learn!
2. Be aware of issues women still face today. Although women have made progress, there are still areas where women face obstacles because of their gender and identity. For example, women still earn less on average than men, carry the majority of household and childcare responsibilities, face workplace stigmas and double standards, and are under-represented in leadership, STEM careers, and politics. Plus, there’s domestic violence, sexual harassment, trafficking, and rape culture. Oh, and hiring bias, harmful beauty standards, and the pink tax. Do we need to go on?
3. Download the Feminist Activist Toolkit. While over 80% of people in the U.S. agree that genders should be treated equally, only 30% of people consider themselves feminists. Feminism is, unfortunately, surrounded by many misconceptions. To help educate more people on what feminism actually means, and to show how anyone can take action to support gender equality, we put together this free Feminist Activist Toolkit, which we’re giving away for free this Women’s History Month. Get yours now! https://act.liveyourdream.org/feminist-activist-toolkit/
4. Post on social media to spread awareness of Women’s History Month. An easy way to celebrate is to share articles, infographics, inspiring quotes, videos, and other women-centric content on your social media.
5. Support a women’s nonprofit. If you really want to make a measurable difference this Women’s History Month, support a charity that works with women and girls in need. Of course we have to toot our own horn here and say that Soroptimist / LiveYourDream.org is helping tens of thousands of women and girls across the globe achieve economic empowerment through education. Your gift can help us create more positive change! But there are tons of other great nonprofits, big and small, working to empower women and move the needle on gender equality. And all of them could use every little bit of help. When enough people pitch in, a pinch of generosity compounds into a mountain of progress!
6. Host an event to celebrate women. An event is a fun way to acknowledge Women’s History Month and to build solidarity with other women. Invite your fierce and fabulous friends (not just women, but allies too!). Make it positive and empowering!
7. Support women-owned businesses. Women-owned businesses are on the rise, but women still represent the minority of business owners. March is a perfect time to show your solidarity with these tenacious leaders, entrepreneurs, and service providers.
8. Write a thank you note to a woman that inspires you. A few simple words to acknowledge how another woman has inspired you can mean a lot to her. Maybe they’re a role model, or a friend who helped you through a tough time. Maybe you just admire certain qualities about them and don’t say so enough. A show of gratitude is a meaningful gesture.
9. Write yourself a love note. While you’re at it, spare a few words of praise for yourself! Women are often our own best critics. Try writing down the things you love about yourself; you deserve to be celebrated!
10. Watch TED talks for women. TED is such an incredible learning resource. We love to put on a TED talk in the background while we work or commute. The TED website has a whole curated list of videos about and by women.
11. Support women authors and artists. Give the creative women of the world some well-earned love. We have a few recommended women authors, and a playlist of empowering women musicians to jam to while you work on your love notes.
12. Participate in political advocacy. Even though women’s rights have come a long way, there’s still plenty of work to do to level the playing field and make sure women and girls have the opportunity to succeed. Pick a topic that matters to you and write or call your representatives to voice your concerns.
Gorman13. Mentor a girl or woman colleague. There are tons of local and national programs where you can become a mentor for women and girls. Our Dream It, Be It program is one example, but there’s also Girls Inc, Boys and Girls Club, YWCA, Ellevate, and more. Being a mentor is a big commitment, but it’s also profoundly impactful, highly rewarding, and can change both mentor and mentee’s lives!
14. Join a women’s volunteer club. Joining a club—like your local Soroptimist chapter—not only gives you opportunities to give back to the community, it also lets you build lifelong friendships with like-minded women. Nothing is more amazing than women lifting up fellow women to help all of us thrive together!
15. Discover your inner Shero. Are you more of a Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a Malala, or Amanda Gorman? Find your inner Shero and get ready to make a difference to empower women and girls!
Please read more at https://yourdream.liveyourdream.org/2022/03/15-ways-to-celebrate-womens-history-month/
For a list of self-care options in 2021 available to all women and everyone, please see our COE self-care website for resources for faculty, staff, students, and the community at:
https://www.csun.edu/eisner-education/self-care/articles-information-self-care
Thank you to all the women who make a difference in the world!
Warmly,
Shari