Women's Equality Day: Ways YOU Can Empower Women!
- Ember
- Aug 26, 2018
- 3 min read
Happy Women's Equality Day! In the U.S. we celebrate this day because it commemorates the acceptance of the nineteenth amendment, which allows women to vote! Despite all of the movements that have been made towards gender equality, we still have a little ways to go before we will be treated as the equals that we are. We can only get there if we stand together, staying strong and empowering one another! So I've compiled a list of 5 small ways YOU can support and strengthen women in your community and around the world!
1) Donate to Your Local Women's Shelter
When people have clothes to get rid of they often opt to donate to a thrift store chain such a Goodwill. Of course there's nothing wrong with supporting Goodwill or other nonprofits, but there are other alternative causes to support! Women's shelters are often in need of gently used clothing donations for both women and children. If you don't have any clothes to donate, they also appreciate books and toys! Donating to these shelters can make such a positive impact on someones life. The unfortunate reality is that many of the women and children in these shelters had to flee their homes from abuse and leave almost everything behind. Some clothes, books or toys can mean the world. I've attached a little list below of some donation ideas.
- new/gently used clothes (women, teen, children)
- books and toys
- new baby care supplies (diapers, bottles, ect.)
- backbacks and school supplies
- new lotions/skin care
- anything you think they could need :)
2) Donate to an Activism/Charity Group
There are so many different groups that are working to empower women around the world. Donations help keep them up and running and are sometimes all they rely on. If you're just a teen like me who doesn't really have too much cash, don't worry! You can still help by sharing these organizations with your family members or through social media! Never underestimate the power of sharing! You could also ask as part of a birthday or holiday gift, for your family to donate to a charity in your name. I know that the amount of different organizations can seem overwhelming at times so I've linked a few down below!
3) Start a Women's Rights Club
If you really want to get local then take your empowerment agenda to your very own school! If you're in high school you probably have the option to create a club at your school. A women's rights or empowerment club would be such an amazing way to support girls (and boys should of course join!) around you. The club could run fundraisers in order to donate to women's organizations, discuss solutions of inequality, educate those in your school and empower everyone involved! As the future generation, now is our time to destroy the old cycle of women competing with each other and tearing each other down, now is our time to start creating a new system where women build each other up and support one another!
4) Educate Those Around You
This means that when you hear an ignorant comment you don't just brush it off and try to forget. This mean that even if you have to be "that feminist girl" (yes I've been labeled that and "radical feminist", which is another issue itself) you educate the person on how what they said was wrong and why it was. Correcting people who make ignorant comments is merely one aspect of educating people around you. It can encompass all of the above; starting a club, sharing organizations and just spreading the word! Just speak up!
5) Follow Your Passions
"They are afraid of educated women. They are afraid of the power of knowledge." Malala Yousafzai
THIS. IS. SO. IMPORTANT. When women don't shy away from their passions and they become strong, successful and educated, they have even more power to strengthen the movement towards equality. They show that women can do what they want. They show that women cannot be oppressed. So follow your passions because some day, you might become a role model.
I hope this list inspired you a little bit! Enjoy Women's Equality Day and don't forget to thank a strong woman in your life or anyone who has inspired you to be you!
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