Celebrated on the 8th of March every year, International Women’s Day has marked a day of advocacy and celebration for women’s rights and equality for over a century. According to the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report 2020, it’s predicted that gender parity won’t be attained for another 99.5 years at the current rate of change, which is why it’s imperative we keep our voices loud.
The International Women’s Day theme for 2021 is #ChooseToChallenge, calling everyone to challenge the status quo by celebrating female achievements, creating room for gender equality and removing bias.
How can you embody this theme? We’ve listed 4 suggestions below:
- Strike up a conversation
Our mission at Tilly Money is to build a community around strengthening females financial wellbeing, independence and literacy and our purpose is to contribute to closing the gender wealth gap in Australia. We’ve been fortunate enough to be in great company, telling women’s money stories across our Tilly Money podcast and celebrating the achievements of so many innovative and successful females. We know that one great way to get inspired or learn something new is through a simple conversation.
This International Women’s Day, try asking a woman you look up to, a mentor or a successful female in your network or industry on a coffee date or a phone call. You could discuss the steps they took in achieving their career, the experiences they’ve had conquering workplace bias or discrimination, their opinions and advice surrounding leadership, how they upkeep self-care and work-life balance, and any other questions you may have relating to their accomplishments. You could even ask them to hook you up with other women in your industry so you can continue building your professional network and open yourself up to more possibilities in your career.
- Support female-owned business
The saying “vote with your dollar” can be your focus this International Women’s Day when you deliberately seek and support businesses that are owned by females. It’s less about excluding men and more of an empowering step toward equal economic empowerment and a more prosperous economy overall.
You can use sites such as https://girlsinbusiness.com.au/ to find and support female companies via their curated business directory. You can then browse by category or by location to view the list of Australian female businesses you can support with your purchases.
- Raise money for a female-focused charity
If your goal this International Women’s Day is to raise visibility for female-focussed charities, considering donating to or fundraising on behalf of a registered charity or non-profit that works to assist or advance females. For example, Nomi Network helps to combat human trafficking, Womankind Worldwide supports women’s rights organisations and movements to secure equal rights for women and girls and Catalyst is a global non-profit that works with over 800 companies around the world to build workplaces that are ideal for women.
- Start a book club
A book club is a great way to cultivate a likeminded community that focuses on literature that educates on women’s issues, empowerment, and achievements. You can meet in person, via Zoom or stay connected via social media including private Facebook groups. It’s also a great way to learn directly from the words of aspirational and affluent women.
Here are some great choices to get you started:
- I Am Malala: The Story of the Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban, by Malala Yousafzai and Christina Lamb
- Untamed, by Glennon Doyle
- Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead, by Brené Brown
No matter how you choose to celebrate or embrace International Women’s Day, it’s important to acknowledge all the women in your network and life that has raised you to the point where you are. When women support women, powerful collaborations occur, inspiration is shared and entrepreneurs are born. Looking at the timeline of how women have progressed over the past century is a great way to feel encouraged and inspired about the future of females.
