International Women’s Day is a global holiday that takes place every year on March 8th. It emerged from the suffrage movements of the early 20th century, as well as labor movements. According to the UN, the Socialist Party of America organized the first National Woman’s Day in recognition of the 1908 garment workers’ strike in New York. The day has since gone international, achieving official recognition by the United Nations in 1977. It is an opportunity to recognize all women for their achievements. How can you celebrate it? Here are 15 ideas:
| # | Activity |
|---|---|
| 1 | Host a film screening |
| 2 | Assemble a book club |
| 3 | Attend an art exhibit |
| 4 | Attend a poetry slam |
| 5 | Organize an open mic night |
| 6 | Host a trivia night |
| 7 | Attend or organize a charity walk |
| 8 | Attend an educational workshop |
| 9 | Research what upcoming legislation affects women |
| 10 | Write letters about women’s rights and legislation |
| 11 | Recognize the achievements of women in your workplace |
| 12 | Research and support mentorship programs |
| 13 | Use social media to advocate for women’s rights |
| 14 | Support women-owned businesses |
| 15 | Donate and/or volunteer at an organization addressing women’s needs |
#1. Host a film screening
Watching a film is a great activity for International Women’s Day because movies appeal to a lot of people and can provoke great discussions. Your film screening can be as simple as getting a few friends together to watch a movie at your house or something more elaborate, like organizing a larger, more official screening and a panel discussion. With a little tech-savvy, you can even organize a virtual movie night. Don’t forget about copyright laws! They vary based on country, but in the United States, if you’re screening a film outside of your home or any place where you’ve gathered people who aren’t family members (that includes schools, libraries and meeting rooms), you need to get a special license. Vendors like Ambrose Video and Discovery Education sell movies with these licenses included.
#2. Assemble a book club
There are countless books written by, about, and for women. If you’re already in a book club, suggest reading a book for International Women’s Day. Penguin Random House, a major publisher, has a list of recommended reads on their website, but you can also find ideas by searching “books about women’s rights” or something similar. Our list of 13 inspiring books about human rights includes books by activists Grace Lee Boggs, Tricia Hershey and Malala Yousafzai. If you’re not currently part of a book club, consider assembling one or even joining a virtual book club. Your local library may also have resources.
Why is International Women’s Day important? Here’s our article on why it matters.
#3. Attend an art exhibit
Women have always created art, but their achievements have historically been dismissed or ignored. For International Women’s Day, consider learning more about great female artists through history! Many museums have exhibits curated specifically in recognition of women artists, while others have resources that help museum attendants find all the art made by women. Research exhibits in your area or explore a gallery online, like this one hosted by the National Museum of Women in the Arts.
#4. Attend a poetry slam
Poetry slams are art events where poets perform spoken word in front of an audience. The format can be flexible, but slams can include audience participation. Slams are energetic, dramatic and moving. You may not be able to find a slam specifically for International Women’s Day, but there are lots of recorded slams online. The International Women’s Day website even features several poems from 2021. You can also find a handful of feminist slam poems on Power Poetry.
#5. Organize an open mic night
Open mics take place at comedy clubs, pubs, coffeehouses, and other places, usually at night. The idea is that anyone from the audience, including amateurs, can go up to the microphone and perform songs, readings, comedy routines, and so on. One idea for International Women’s Day is to hold an open mic night for women. They’ll get a chance to showcase a skill, whether that’s by performing something original or something that means a lot to them. You can hold an open mic night at a traditional venue – like a cafe – or set up a gathering at someone’s home. Depending on the size of the space, you may not even need an actual microphone!
#6. Host a trivia night
Lots of people love trivia, so think about hosting a trivia game night for International Women’s Day. If you want to blend fun with fundraising, consider charging a small cover fee you can donate to a women’s rights organization. To fit with the day’s theme, write trivia questions about International Women’s Day, women’s rights, famous women, and so on. If you don’t have time to write all your own questions, you can find prewritten trivia quizzes online.
Interested in hosting more regular fundraisers or raising awareness of women’s rights issues? Here’s our article on how to become a community activist.
#7. Attend or organize a charity walk
Charity walks (also known as walk-a-thons) are a type of fundraiser. People collect donations for walking or running a certain distance. To improve access as much as possible, good walkathons allow for low-intensity options or donations based on minutes, not miles. See if your area is holding any charity walks in recognition of International Women’s Day or to benefit an organization that helps women or girls in some way.
#8. Attend an educational workshop
NGOs, associations, universities and other institutions regularly hold educational workshops for the community. Research local events or workshops about International Women’s Day, feminism, gender equality or related topics. You can find workshops through online searches while your local library or college is also a good resource. If you can’t find any local workshops, consider joining a virtual event. If you have children, you can find workshops designed for elementary and high school girls, too!
#9. Research what upcoming legislation affects women
You may have the opportunity to vote on issues that directly impact women. If you’re able to vote where you live, take the time to research how upcoming legislation affects girls and women. As an example, a proposed healthcare law might claim to save you money on your taxes, but in exchange, it cuts funding for important preventative care. When you’re researching legislation, always check in with women’s rights organizations to see what they’re saying the impact could be.
#10. Write letters about women’s rights and legislation
Many countries use representative forms of government, so while you may not be able to vote directly on legislation, you can let officials know what actions you want them to take. Letter-writing is one way to communicate. Even if you can’t send letters directly to a leader for one reason or another, you can write open letters, which you can post online or send to newspapers. To celebrate International Women’s Day, research what is affecting women in your area and write letters to government officials encouraging them to take action. If there’s specific legislation on the table, let them know how you want them to vote.
What gender issues are most important right now? Here’s our article on 15 of the most urgent examples.
#11. Recognize the achievements of women in your workplace
International Women’s Day is a great opportunity to celebrate the contributions of women in your workplace. Organizations can amplify the stories of important women in the organization’s history, bring in a guest speaker, send employees gifts from women-owned businesses, or host a special lunch catered by a woman-owned restaurant. While International Women’s Day is a good time to do something special, organizations should always work to improve gender parity and inclusion in the workplace.
#12. Research and support mentorship programs
Mentorship programs play a big role in increasing gender parity, closing educational gaps, enhancing a person’s skills, and achieving better inclusion. There are mentorships designed for professional development, but there are also mentorship programs for kids. To celebrate International Women’s Day, consider researching mentorship programs for women and girls in your area.
#13. Use social media to advocate for women’s rights
At the time of writing, the state of social media was in flux, but it still remains an accessible, convenient way to share your thoughts with a broad audience. For International Women’s Day, harness your social media to discuss women’s issues and how people can support women’s rights. You can keep it simple with a short paragraph or use tools like Canva to create compelling graphics. If you own a business, celebrating International Women’s Day on your social media is a great way to share your values.
Writing something for International Women’s Day? Our article on writing a women’s day speech has tips that apply to writing letters and social media posts.
#14. Support women-owned businesses
According to the World Economic Forum, women started 49% of new businesses in the United States in 2021, which is a big jump from 2019. Female entrepreneurship is increasing around the world, but men still outnumber women 3-1 in business ownership. For International Women’s Day, consider supporting a woman-owned business! Not every business advertises itself as woman-owned, but some put that information on their websites or social media accounts. To fully embody the values of International Women’s Day, check if the business you’re interested in treats its employees equitably and equally, supports other causes you’re passionate about, and donates money to NGOs.
#15. Donate and/or volunteer at an organization addressing women’s needs
NGOs serving women and girls always need donations and volunteers. For International Women’s Day, consider giving a monetary donation to a local, national, or international NGO working to protect women’s rights around the world. You can also consider volunteering at an organization! Many organizations need help with daily operations, fundraising campaigns and other activities. If you’re unable to volunteer in person, you can find virtual volunteer opportunities with many NGOs.
Here’s our article on 25 organizations fighting for women’s rights and gender equality.
