Every year on the 8th of March, we celebrate women all over the world – International Women’s Day.
On this day, we promote gender equality and do our best to further women’s rights. All the politics aside, this is also a day to celebrate womanhood and its contribution to society.
With this year’s theme being #BalanceforBetter, people are expected to take to the streets to participate in programs and marches honoring this special day.
You don’t necessarily have to do the same, however, because there are other ways to celebrate International Women’s Day. With a little creativity, you can do it in a more fun and personal way.
If you’re still without a plan for International Women’s Day, below are a couple of ideas you can do with your BFFs!
1. Binge watch films about strong women
What do Erin Brockovich, GI Jane, The Blind Side, and The Iron Lady have in common? They all have strong women as leads.
Gender equality has been a controversial issue for a long time and these movies exemplify why men and women should be treated equals.
It’s inspiring to watch these movies’ protagonists defy the odds and come out on top effectively reminding us that women are equally capable of accomplishing what men can.
2. Organize a potluck with friends
International Women’s Day is also a good time to come together with your female friends so you can sit down and have meaningful conversations in front of great-tasting food.
Have everyone bring a dish or dessert that you will all feast on either at home or picnic style while you reminisce about the good times or tell stories about the women who inspire us, make us want to be more, or simply showed acts of kindness.
Celebrating International Women’s Day becomes more special when you are in the company of the people closest to your hearts.
3. Enjoy a soothing massage
Every hardworking woman deserves a break from all the rigors of professional life and one of the best ways to take a pause and celebrate womanhood is to get a soothing massage.
Take your BFFs to the nearest spa or massage parlor for a relaxing afternoon so you can recharge and rejuvenate while enjoying each other’s company.
If you have work, you can always coordinate with your superiors to help organize a corporate massage session for the women in your office.
Not only will this be good for health, but it’s also an excellent way to boost everyone’s morale while championing women’s rights and accomplishments.
4. Watch/Listen to TED Talks delivered by inspiring Women
If you can’t make it to the dozens of seminars and talks about International Women’s Day, you can still listen to the wisdom of some of the world’s most respected women via the internet.
There are a lot of TED Talks about gender equality, women in leadership and female empowerment available online that you can stream over a bubble bath with wine in hand.
Some of the more notable ones that come to mind are Sheryl Sandberg’s “Why We Have Too Few Women Leaders”, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s “We Should All Be Feminists”, Arianna Huffington’s “How to Succeed? Get More Sleep”, and Billie Jean King’s “This tennis icon paved the way for women in sports”.
There are obviously a lot more that deserve commendation but the ones mentioned are simply hard to miss because of the powerful message they impart.
5. Support women-owned businesses
What better way to celebrate International Women’s Day than supporting women-owned brands?
Yes, girl power has also penetrated the entrepreneurial scene with more women deciding to ditch the 9-to-5 so they can run their own business and be their own boss.
International Women’s Day is the perfect day to show your support for these entrepreneurs by supporting their respective businesses.
Some of the brands that come to mind are Tiffany Masterson’s Drunk Elephant Cleaners, Victoria Tsai’s quick primer The Silk Canvas, and Kat Von D’s Everlasting Liquid Lipstick Line, to name a few.
Final Thoughts
No matter how you celebrate International Women’s Day, what’s important is to understand why you are commemorating it in the first place. This event is held every year so we can remember and give importance to women’s contributions to society and the world as a whole.
