5 Ways to Celebrate International Women’s Day

International Women’s Day (IWD) has been celebrated around the world in some way or another since 1911. Besides being a day to honor the achievements and important work of women globally, IWD also draws attention to women’s rights, equality, and persisting social injustices.

Here are some fun and impactful ways to celebrate International Women’s Day this year on March 8th.

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We all hear all about Mark Zuckerburg, Albert Einstein, and Steve Jobs, but women built the computing industry so this #WomensHistoryMonth we are highlighting the girl bosses in tech all month long! ?‍??‍??‍?

A post shared by Girls Who Code (@girlswhocode) on Mar 1, 2019 at 9:04am PST

Donate to a Women’s Organization

Out of the thousands of charities you could give to, why not ensure your donation makes the most impact for women?

A simple Google search will list tons of women-focused organizations, from those that focus on reproductive healthcare such as Planned Parenthood, to STEM-centered educational foundations such as Girls Who Code. Find a cause you’re passionate about and put your money where your mouth (and heart) is this International Women’s Day.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BlRZRcJA8PV/

Share Work by Women You Admire

Women’s voices are historically underheard, and therefore their hard work is often criminally underseen.

Do you have a favorite author, artist, or entrepreneur? What about a female friend or family member who is working hard on a project? Share their work on social media. A simple retweet or mention does a lot to put new eyes on women’s work, and in turn can give them new followers and more networking opportunities.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Buk3JKlH_mX/

Spend Money at a Woman-Owned Business

Although today the United States has over 11 million women-owned businesses, they unfortunately only receive 2% of investor and capital venture funding.

Supporting women-owned businesses is one of the most important things you can do for International Women’s Day, and putting your money toward a company with like-minded values and practices is extremely rewarding. This March 8th — and throughout the rest of the year — try to support female entrepreneurs and small women-owned businesses.

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“My parents had always exposed me to art. My mother took me to galleries when I was a tiny toddler, and I loved going to the cinema when I was a child as well. I started doing photography at school, and my father built me a dark room in a little shed in our backyard. I sort of put two and two together: if I love photography and I love movies, why don’t I become a cinematographer? At the time, I didn’t realize that there were hardly any women doing it in the world at that point. It was just something I was naturally drawn to.” . . . . #MandyWalker #dop #cinema #videographers #photography #womeninfilm #quotes #inspire #represent #cinematographers #womenbehindthecamera #ifshecanseeitshecanbeit

A post shared by Grisedale Sherry Productions (@grisedalesherry) on Feb 13, 2019 at 12:12pm PST

Watch a Movie or TV Series by a Female Director or Writer

In the 91 years of the Academy Awards, only five women were ever nominated for the Best Director award, and only one of those women has ever won — Kathryn Bigelow for “The Hurt Locker” (2008).

Women are extremely underrepresented in these large studio award shows, but that doesn’t mean thousands of films directed or written by women don’t exist — they’re just waiting to be seen and appreciated. Make a point to watch either a film or television series directed or written by a woman this month.

Hang Out With Your Gal Pals

Sometimes all you need is to spend some relaxing time with close friends and family. Invite all your female friends over for a movie, for dinner, or just to catch up. Share recent successes, dreams, and advice with each other, and let them know how much you appreciate their friendship.

How are you celebrating International Women’s Day this year?

Featured image via Unsplash