I can’t think of a better way to kick off March and the
weekend than with a little celebration of all the great women who walked before
me so that I can enjoy all the wonderful opportunities women have today. In
many areas, there’s still plenty of work to do for women’s rights and equality,
but I tend to look for the positive in all areas of my life, so on March, 8,
2019, I will stand with women all around the world with open minded optimism.
Read on to see how you can get involved with my five easy take action ideas.
The Face of a Happy Work At Home Mom:
Hi, I’m Linda, and I’m smiling because I'm fortunate enough to be a work at home
Mom of two teen daughters. I’ve been at home with them all their lives,
something my husband and I are very proud of. I never got into one of the “mommy wars”,
where you debate (or in some cases bash) another Mom for working or staying at home to raise their children. To me, there simply was no need to explain, or defend our choices to
anyone. You do you and let me do me! Giving
women the right to choose how they live their lives, is what the women’s rights movement was and is all about in my opinion; which is why I wanted to
shine a light on this often overlooked day in women’s history.
About International
Women’s Day:
According to the IWD website, International Women’s
Day, held annually on March 8, is a global day of celebrating the social,
economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for
accelerating gender equality.
Where IWD got its Start:
The first IWD gathering was in 1911 supported by over a
million people in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland. Thank you international sisterhood!
When the IWD started in America:
After
the Socialist Party of America organized a Women's Day on February 28, 1909 in
New York, the 1910 International Socialist Woman's Conference suggested a
Women's Day be held annually. Thank you United States sisterhood!
Why the IWD color is Purple:
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Here’s what I found on the IWD’s website about their color choice. “Purple is historically associated with
efforts to achieve gender equality. In this context it was first used alongside
green and white as the colors of the Women’s Social and Political Union,
the organization that led Britain’s women’s suffrage movement in the early 20th
century.
For suffragettes fighting for the
right to vote, purple represented “the royal blood that flows in the veins of
every suffragette,” according to the book Women's
Suffrage Memorabilia: An Illustrated Historical Study by
Kenneth Florey. White represented purity and green represented hope.
In the 1960s and 1970s, use of the
color was revived by feminists to represent the Women’s Liberation movement as
a tribute to the suffragettes.”
I for one love the color purple and will proudly wear it on Friday.
2019 International Women’s Day Campaign Theme: #BalanceForBetter:
IWD wants us to see that the future is exciting and that we all can
help build a gender-balanced world! What does that mean exactly? Simply put, it
means we all can do something to help right where we live. Of course there is a hashtag for this, and I
plan on taking my #BalanceForBetter selfie on Friday and sharing it on my
Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. I’d love for you to follow along! Here are some ideas and actions I plan on
doing this Friday (besides the rare
selfie) and throughout 2019.
Five easy Take Action Ideas:
- Shop local and small women owned businesses first
- Give women owned businesses social media love by submitting a review and/or sharing their biz
- Help women in your community by donating needed items to local non-profits
- Mentor women by sharing your expertise online on Facebook groups or LinkedIn
- Be active in your community by saying yes and showing up at local events
Those are just ideas off the top of my head that work for me
where I am in life. I work online a lot,
so its just easier for me to help while I’m on my laptop or phone. However, I
do need to be better at stepping outside my online office and getting out in
the community more, so I’m actively seeking ways to show up in my community.
For instance, instead of just dropping off items at the food bank, or church
thrift store, I could see if they need volunteers one day a week. Another way I could get involved with this
campaign is by attending my local International Women’s Day event!
About International Women’s
Day 2019 Nashville, TN (#IWDNash2019):
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Hey locals! You are invited to come celebrate ALL sisters
with us on Friday March 8, 2019 at the iconic Parthenon! Come #IgniteYourLightNashville
from 5:30pm to 10:30pm. It’s a free event for everyone interested in coming
together in joy and fraternity. You’ll hear from speakers from all walks of
life and performers who showcase the diversity of Nashville. This is a
fantastic way to network with Nashville based businesses as well. I invite you
to learn more about Nashville’s event here. To find a local event
near you, go to the International Women’s Day site and search events here.
Please share in comments: How will you celebrate IWD this
year?
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