How You Can Get Involved This International Women's Day

International Women’s Day 2023 is taking place on the 8th March so there isn’t too long to go to get your celebrations planned. 

This global event helps to shed light on those who campaigned for women’s rights throughout history, and the different contributions that women have made to help shape the world which we know today. 

This important celebration focuses on the achievements of women and seeks to empower women and girls, as well as helping to educate and raise awareness on the issues which women are still experiencing in every corner of the world. 

Within this post we’ll be discussing how you can get involved and celebrate International Women’s Day this year whilst living in student accommodation.

Find out more within our post! 

When Did International Women’s Day Start? 

Celebrated globally on March 8th to acknowledge the great accomplishments that women have made in society, the history of International Women’s Day dates back to the early 20th century. 

The first reported day dedicated to women was held back in 1909 in New York City at the suggestion of activist Theresa Malkiel.

The National Women’s Day took place due to the garment workers strike where women in America protested against their working conditions. 

It wasn’t until August 1910 that an official international Women’s Day was suggested at the International Socialist Women’s Conference.

The following year in 1911, the first celebration took place with over a million people within Austria, Denmark, Germany, and Switzerland getting involved. 

In favour of women’s rights, the United Nations (UN) began celebrating International Women’s Day in 1975 and marked the 8th of March as the official day.

Nowadays, International Women’s Day is celebrated as a public holiday all across the world and works to help fight against discrimination towards women.

The basic rights which we have in the UK are unfortunately not recognised for women in some parts of the world, with some being stripped of their rights to an education, to own property or to vote to name a few examples. 

So, this day helps to focus on the pressing problems that women in this day and age are still experiencing due to their gender and how we can fight to achieve equality for all! 

What Is The International Women’s Day 2023 Theme? 

There are two themes for this years international Women’s Day, the campaign theme for the annual event is #EmbraceEquity which is all about focusing on why equal opportunities for women aren’t enough.

The theme concentrates on how equity isn’t just a nice-to-have, it’s a must-have.

The United Nations (UN) theme for this year’s International Women’s Day focuses on  ‘DigitALL: Innovation and Technology for Gender Equality’.

The theme is about creating digital spaces which are inclusive for all, as women are underrepresented within the digital world and are often faced with gender-based violence online.

You can find out more about the theme for this year’s International Women’s Day on the official website.

How To Celebrate International Women’s Day 2023 

International Women’s Day focuses on the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women and can be celebrated in a variety of different ways. 

We’ll be focusing on how you can get involved to celebrate women and help to fight for change.

We hope this next section will give you some inspiration for March 8th! 

1. Learn More About Women’s Rights 

You can help to celebrate women and raise awareness this International Women’s Day 2023 by learning more about women’s rights, from the experiences that women have gone through within history to get us to where we are now to the issues which are still impacting women. 

If you want to be part of the conversation but aren’t sure where to start, there are many online resources you can make use of to learn more about women’s rights and their battle for equality. 

Whether it’s watching documentaries, TV shows or films, reading books, listening to podcasts, or so on, there are plenty of ways you can get educated. 

Education on these issues is key to helping to end the inequalities which women still experience within this day and age so, no matter your gender identity do your part this year and expand your learning. 

It’s even better if you pass on what you’ve learnt with others so that other people can become educated on these important topics! 

2. Support Women Based Businesses 

Make an impact this International Women’s Day 2023 by supporting women based businesses.

Did you know that female businesses tend to encounter more obstacles within society?

By purchasing products and services from female businesses owners, you are helping to support and uplift women.

Whether it’s purchasing food, clothing, accessories or so on, there are many ways you can be a force for good. 

If you do find a product or service which you love, don’t forget to share it with others whether it’s sharing a photo on social media or telling your friends about where you got it from!

This can help to bring in more customers and expand their business. 

3. Help Women’s Charities 

If you’re wanting to make a difference this International Women’s Day then you could think about donating to female focused charities which align with your beliefs. 

There are plenty of brilliant organisations out there which are helping to fundraise for women and girls worldwide, shine a light on issues which are impacting women across the globe, as well as helping to fight against gender inequality.

Some great charities are Equality Now, The Young Women’s Trust and Nomi Network to name a couple. 

If you’re not in a position to donate your money to worthy causes then don’t worry, you could also help to support women’s charities by donating your time and volunteering for organisations which aim to create real change for women.

You could even think about volunteering to mentor or tutor young girls within your community. 

4. Attend An International Women’s Day Event 

Attending events for International Women’s Day are one of the best ways to get involved and hear untold stories from women on their experiences and the challenges that they may face. 

You can search online or explore the official international Women’s Day website to find out about any events which are taking place.

There’s over 450 listed currently so there’s bound to be something which interests you.

Whether it’s attending a workshop, attending a reading session, networking with women, listening to Q&As or getting involved with virtual events, there are a variety of different activities you can take part in. 

5. Host Your Own International Women’s Day Event 

This International Women’s Day if there are no events taking place in your uni city or town, you can still get involved by hosting your own event. 

A few ideas for your event could include listening to your female friends’ stories and asking how you can support them, speaking up about topics which are important to you, discussing your favourite books on gender equality, or creating your own woman based playlist with all your favourite female artists! 

Don’t forget to wear purple for the event as this is the core colour of international Women’s Day as it signifies justice and dignity. 

For those of you who are living in our student accommodation, you can make use of our residents app KLIQ to plan your event for Wednesday March 8th. 

6. Empower The Women In Your Life 

International Women’s Day is all about giving a platform to women and empowering them.

So, this March 2023 get involved by acknowledging and appreciating the women in your life whether it’s your family, friends or course mates. 

You could even give them a present like some flowers, a care package, chocolates or a card if you’re feeling extra special, this is a nice gesture to show that you stand with the females in your life on this day of recognition. 

Research suggests that women are more likely to suffer from mental health issues such as depression and anxiety, so it’s important to be there for the women in your life too. 

If you’re a male you can empower the women in your life by understanding your privilege within society due to your gender, and give a platform to females to talk about their story and the issues in which they face.

There may be problems that they encounter which don’t seem like a big deal to you, but it’s important to not discredit their experiences. 

It isn’t just males who can help to empower women, as a female you can help to empower other females by supporting their strengths and achievements.

Not only are you empowering others by doing this, you are also empowering yourself. 

7. Get Involved Online 

Social media can be such a useful educational tool for International Women’s Day.

You can use social media platforms to share topics which are important to you and show your appreciation for powerful women. 

One simple post on the likes of Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or Twitter can help shine a spotlight on issues which are impacting women and help to get conversations started. 

You can get inspiring others online to celebrate and take action through the hashtags #EmbraceEquity and #IWD2023.

So, get together with your friends this year and do the IWD pose to show your solidarity towards women! 

We can all help to create positive change for women across the world. Remember, every one of us has a part to play in helping to ensure global equality for women! 

No matter how you’re celebrating we hope you have a fantastic time on March 8th and take inspiration from our post. 

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