Seek Out and Celebrate Women’s Achievements from Around the World for International Women’s Day
International Women’s Day (IWD) Day is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. It is celebrated annually, on March 8th. This day asks us to “help forge a gender-equal world [by] celebrating women’s achievements and increasing visibility while calling out inequality.” This year’s theme is #ChooseToChallenge. There are many ways we can do this.
Choose to Read and Learn Through the Voice of Women
The Surrey Libraries has a number of books to read to help you understand why IWD exists. They have broken down their reading materials by age group, fiction, and non-fiction. You will find titles including Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 (Adult: Fiction), Stop Telling Women to Smile (Adult: Non-Fiction), Fight Like a Girl (Teens), and Stella Diaz Never Gives Up (Kids).
Over at the North Vancouver District Public Library, they’re hosting a Stay at Home And Read Book Club. You can choose your own book with an IWD theme and share your insights with others online. This book club meets on the first Saturday of the month. The New Westminster Public Library has a number of books to choose from if you’re looking for more ideas.
Choose to Attend DIVERSECity’s ‘Women Leaders in a Post-COVID World’ Online Event
Did you know that six in 10 women say they find it difficult to picture themselves as leaders? It’s time to #ChoosetoChallenge and empower each other to lead the way! A panel discussion with local women leaders will share their experiences and strategies as women and racialized women leaders.
Challenge Your Own Thoughts and Actions
A challenging world is an alert world. Individually, we are all responsible for our own thoughts and actions – all day, every day. The Globe and Mail recently wrote the series “This is the Power Gap” in which they demonstrated “men still dramatically outnumber, outrank and out-earn women.” According to the World Economic Forum, gender parity is still a long way off.
With Challenge Comes Change
This movement is embedded in our history. Its origins date back to the early 1900s with women demanding voting rights and better pay. IWD dates back to March 19, 1911, and first started in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland. During That day, more than one million women and men showed their support by participating in public events. In the years that followed, other countries began to observe and celebrate this day. The United Nations recognized 1975 as International Women’s Year and began celebrating IWD on March 8, later adopting a resolution designating March 8 as International Women’s Day.
There is still much work to do, and we can all play a part. Happy International Women’s Day from all of us at NewToBC. Let’s continue working together and #ChooseToChallenge inequality when we see it.