Image: Women of the World festival, Southbank Centre
Today is International Women’s Day – a global day for celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women, as well as marking a call to action for accelerating gender parity. If you want to mark the occasion but aren’t sure where to start, here are some ideas for things to do.
The theme for this year’s International Women’s Day is Each For Equal – a call for gender equality in all aspects of our lives from our workplaces to the media. As rallies, marches and educational events take place accross the globe, the day’s activities paint a promising picture of the quest for gender balance and global feminism. The annual event encourages us to take responsibility and be active citizens as we celebrate the achievements of women worldwide, while also helping to support those who are currently being limited from fulfilling their potential. At Eco-Age we believe that small steps can lead to big change and, with that in mind, we’ve rounded up some ideas to mark International Women’s Day.
Attend an IWD Event
International Women’s Day officially takes place on Sunday 8th March, and there is no shortage of events to take you through the weekend. We’ll be looking forward to the amazing line-up for this year’s Women of the World (WOW) festival, taking place at London’s Southbank Centre on Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th March and including talks with writer, comedian and political activist Sandi Toksvig and Don’t Touch My Hair author Emma Dabiri. This year’s #March4Women march with CARE International will also be held on Sunday, starting in Whitehall Place.
Image: The Women’s Prize for Fiction
Listen Up
With so many female broadcasters and writers producing fantastic content here in the UK, there is no reason to spend your commute scrolling through your Instagram feed for the 100th time! In our quest to devote less time looking at screens we’ve been listening to some inspiring, informative and hilarious podcasts such as Wardrobe Crisis by Clare Press, The High Low, and Get It Off your Breasts.
Celebrate Literary Queens
On March 3 the Women’s Prize announced its longlist of 16 books, recognising a diverse group of talented female writers spanning different genres. Since its inception in 1996, The Women’s Prize for Fiction has showcased the remarkable women working in the literary industry and has become a respected accolade worldwide. Check out the longlistfor inspiration for your next read and use the opportunity to set up a book club with your friends, or join our Eco-Age book club and let us know your thoughts on our Sustainability Book of the Month – Weather by Jenny Offill.
Image: The FA
Champion women’s sport
It’s estimated that only 7% of sports media coverage is dedicated to women’s sport, and there remains a huge disparity between the support and value put on women’s sport versus their male counterparts. While big corporations are continuing to primarily focus and invest in male dominated sport, we can help to break this cycle by showing our love towards the inspiring female athletes around the globe. With the Women’s Euro 2021 football tournament set to be hosted in England, you can already pre-register to be a volunteer at the event or sign up for ticketing information.
Give Back
There are numerous incredible organisations working tirelessly for women’s rights, both locally and around the world, who could benefit from your support. Take this opportunity to make a donation or contribute some of your time to a cause that you feel passionately about. Whether your donating clothes to a women’s shelter or writing to your local MP on a topic that affects those around you, every step will make a difference!
Read our interview with founder of the Malaika girls’ school Noella Coursaris Musunka.
See our list of Inspiring Women for International Women’s Day.
Watch Annie Lennox and The Circle’s International Women’s Day short film.