Celebrating International Women’s Day with Empowerment, Self-Care, and Community

International Women’s Day and Celebrating Women – Today and Everyday

Did you know International Women’s Day (IWD) is celebrated annually on March 8th to recognize the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women worldwide? It is a day to reflect on how far we have come and also how far we still have yet to go in terms of gender equality.

National Women’s Day was first celebrated in the United States in 1909. The first official International Women’s Day was celebrated on March 19, 1911. Every year it is observed globally with different themes.

International Women’s Day is a time to celebrate the strength, resilience, and achievements of women everywhere. IWD honors women’s contributions in science, politics, business, the arts, and activism. It highlights trailblazing women who have broken barriers and inspired future generations.

Despite progress, women still face many challenges in terms of getting equal pay for the same job, reproductive rights and limited access to leadership roles. Depending on your politics, you might even say we have gone back in terms of our rights as women over the last several years. IWD uses this day to push for policy changes, awareness, education reforms, and workplace equity.

However, this site is focused primarily on how we can best take care of ourselves as women. And one of the best ways to honor this day is by prioritizing self-care. Because taking care of yourself is a revolutionary act of self-love and empowerment.

Ways You Can Celebrate International Women’s Day

Of course, I am going to advocate for women to prioritize self-care, their well-being, and mental health on this day and everyday. With that in mind, here are some ideas and resources to support you and your fellow women.

Finding Time for Self-Care

There are many self-care rituals that honor well-being and there is a whole category of articles, Self-Care for Women, dedicated to that on this site. Here are some highlights to get started right away:

• 10 Minute Self-Care Ideas for Busy Women
• The Best Self-Care Retreat for You
• 5 Minute Self-Care Ideas
• Seasonal Self-Care Tips (Includes links to Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer)
• 100 Self-Care Ideas (When You Don’t Know what to Do)
• Why is Self-Care so Important
• Simple Self-Care Ideas and Tips

Which will you choose? I think you will there are MANY options to get started whether you have a small amount of time (or even a whole day!).

Supporting Other Women

I feel strongly about the need for women to support other women, not just today, but everyday. Please be one of those women who have each other’s back rather than tearing down someone else.

We all know someone who only seems to be happy with themselves when they can make another women feel less than. I know if you are reading this, that you aren’t that woman. So, thank you!

The world needs more women who are willing to do what it takes to stand up for each other and help each other to the next level. If you are a woman in a position of power, see who you can help up the ladder behind you by mentoring or hiring for an open position.

I know there are many incredible women who support their fellow females. Please do what you can to inspire other women to support each other, so we can all continue to lift each other up and have a strong global sisterhood.

Ideas for uplifting women in your community

If you are looking for meaningful ways to celebrate International Women’s Day, whether personally, in your community, or at work, here are some great ideas to get started.

Support Women-Owned Businesses

This seems like an obvious one and an easy one to fulfill too. Look for women-owned businesses and support their stores and restaurants in your area, as well as online shops owned by women.

Read or Share Women’s Stories

I didn’t mean to do this necessarily, but I have been reading books written by female authors almost exclusively for many years. Part of it is because they seem to resonate the most with me. I’m not saying that male authors can’t get into a women’s head, but I find myself able to relate more when it is written by a female. (Life experience and all of that.)

One way to do this is to try to find and read books by female authors. I’ve got quite a few I can recommend on this blog. My favorite female authors are Diana Gabaldon, Beatriz Williams, Rhys Bowen, Chanel Cleeton, Christina Lauren (actually two women writers), and Emily Henry to name just a few. Here are some articles to read more on a few of them:

• Books that Can Change Your Life
• Super Powerful Self Help Books for Women
• What to Read Next – 3 Female Spies Solve the Mystery

Or, if biographies are more your thing, choose a woman you want to learn more about and read a biography on her. My favorite way to blend the two is to read historical novels based on famous females.

Try reading a novel by Fiona Davis, Kate Quinn, or Meg Waite Clayton to learn more about truly inspiring women. And, when you are done, make sure to share the wealth and pass on these stories to your friends and daughters.

Express Gratitude to Yourself and Your Fellow Women

First, as a woman, I want you to take a moment and reflect on your personal and professional achievements. I know you have them! We tend to minimize our own contributions as women to the world at large.

So feel free to take some time and acknowledge all the ways the world is a better place because you are in it. You don’t have to share this with anyone but yourself. Just list three things you are proud of and celebrate them in whatever way brings you joy.

Next, take a moment and reach out to the other women in your life who inspire you. They could be your mentors, family members, or friends.

These women deserve a note to thank them for their influence in your life and express your gratitude for being in your life too. If you want to purchase cards like the ones below, see our shop on Loveselfcare, or we also have a Loveselfcare shop on Etsy.

More Ways to Advocate for Women

Attend an Event Celebrating Women in Your Area

Do a little research and be on the lookout for local panels, workshops, or networking events centered around women’s empowerment. If you can’t find any in your area, you can always join an online Women’s Day event or discussion. I’ve been looking at Instagram and have found many women posting about special things in their area.

Volunteer for a Women’s Cause

Another great way to give back to women is to either donate time or funds to organizations that support women’s rights, shelters, or education programs. Again, you can start with your local groups, or you can donate to larger groups that help causes you believe in.

We live in an amazing time where we can reach out and touch (almost immediately) groups that we feel inspired to help and lift up. For example, you could research online a list of charities that support women’s mental health and well-being.

Advocate for Gender Equality

If you are one who likes social media, you can find shareable Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest posts that feature empowering quotes for and by women. You can also use hashtags and other ways to spread the word about those causes you believe in.

You can also use your voice in your community to highlight issues women face and support policies that promote equality. I’m sure your local government representative would love to hear from you (not where I live – but maybe where you are?).

More Ways to Celebrate Women

Show Your Spirit for Women by Wearing Purple

According to the website for International Women’s Day, you should wear purple, white or green on March 8. They primarily say to wear purple because it symbolizes justice and dignity.

Purple has also long been associated with royalty and royal blood. The suffragettes used purple as one of their signature colors. The other colors they used that are also used by IWD are white (symbol of sisterhood and solidarity) and green (for hope).

Create & Share Content

Write a blog post, make a video, or post on social media to highlight inspiring women. I’m writing a blog post. But if you don’t have that option, there are plenty of other things you can do.

Like above, you can share on social media a post highlighting inspiring women. You can educate other women on how far we have come and how far we still have to go. The current thought is that it may take until 2158 to achieve gender equality.

Watch a Film About Strong Women for International Women’s Day

There are many movies about strong women who have made a difference. Some of the top historical or biographical ones to watch are:

• Hidden Figures – true story of three black women mathematicians who played vital roles at NASA
• Suffragette – early feminist movement in Britain struggling for the right to vote for women
• Erin Brockovich – true story about one woman’s fight against a corporation that poisoned a town’s water supply
• Harriet – biopic about Harriet Tubman, the abolitionist who helped others via the Underground Railroad
• On the Basis of Sex – story of Ruth Bader Ginsburg as she fights gender discrimination and becomes a Supreme Court Justice
• Norma Rae – Based on the real-life story of Crystal Sutton, textile worker who fought to unionize her workplace and improve conditions of workers
• The Miracle Worker – film about Helen Keller and her teacher, Anne Sullivan, who helped her overcome the challenges of being blind and deaf and go on to become an influential advocate
• Radioactive – story of Marie Curie, pioneering scientist who discovered radioactivity and won two Nobel Prizes
• The Glorias – film about feminist icon Gloria Steinem, her journey as a journalist and activist in the women’s rights movement
• Iron Jawed Angels – film about Alice Paul and the suffragists who fought for women’s right to vote in the U.S., enduring imprisonment and hunger strikes
• A Call to Spy – Inspired by real female spies (including Virginia Hall, Noor Inayat Khan, and Vera Atkins) who worked as part of Churchill’s secretive SOE.
• The Zookeeper’s Wife – Based on the true story of Antonina Zabinska, a Polish woman who used her family’s zoo to help save Jews during the Holocaust

All of these movies showcase powerful women. They are worthy to watch to be inspired. They also remind us of the important role women play in our world, historically and now.

How will you celebrate women?

What will you choose to celebrate on International Women’s Day? Whether you read a book, write a letter, or spend time on self-care, all would be good choices.

It is important to find ways to honor and respect the other women in our lives today. We also want to appreciate the ones who made sacrifices for the betterment of all of us. I hope you will find a way to express your own support and enthusiasm for your fellow women and encourage them to keep supporting women’s rights.