Celebrate International Women’s Day on March 8th! #MakeItHappen

Gear Diary is reader-supported. When you buy through links posted on our site, we may earn a commission at no cost to you.

You can learn more by clicking here.

For more than a century International Women’s Day has been held on March 8th. And it is amazing to think of the things that have happened in our country and world for women since that time. The date is derived from the women of Petrograd, Russia holding a “bread and peace” strike in 1917, but the message is timeless.

Celebrate International Women's Day on March 8th! #MakeItHappen

It is amazing to look back – it has been less than 150 years that women who were married actually had the rights to their own earnings or property … and that is in the US! Within the last 100 years we have made incredible advances … yet there is still a long way to go.

Social, cultural and religious pressures keep women from getting education, jobs, advancement and general societal equality. The challenge is simple – MAKE IT HAPPEN. From the site:

International Women’s Day 2015 Theme: MAKE IT HAPPEN
All around the world, International Women’s Day represents an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of women while calling for greater equality.
Make It Happen is the 2015 theme for our internationalwomensday.com global hub, encouraging effective action for advancing and recognising women.
Each year International Women’s Day (IWD) is celebrated on March 8. The first International Women’s Day was held in 1911. Thousands of events occur to mark the economic, political and social achievements of women. Organisations, governments, charities, educational institutions, women’s groups, corporations and the media celebrate the day.
Various organisations identify their own International Women’s Day theme, specific to their local context and interests. Many charities, NGOs and Governments also adopt a relevant theme or campaign to mark the day. For example, organisations like the UN, Oxfam, Women for Women, Care International, Plan, World Association of Girl Guides & Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) and more – run exciting and powerful campaigns that raise awareness and encourage donations for good causes. The UN has been declaring an annual equality theme for many years.

International Women’s Day
Use your voice via social media:
– #MakeItHappen
– #womensday
– #IWD2015
– #internationalwomensday
– #PaintItPurple
– And watch out for even more #hashtag activism from loads of great groups all around the world

Interact with National Women’s Day on:

– Twitter
– Facebook
– YouTube
– LinkedIn
– Pinterest

Lend your support:
– Retweet and share content
– Display the International Women’s Day on your website or blog
– Donate to your favourite women’s charity
– Paint It Purple – your website, blog, emails for the day
– Insert the IWD logo in your email signature block for the day
– Support a female-focused crowd-funding initiative
– Make and upload a video
– Run a webinar

Support International Women’s Day OFFLINE
– Run an event celebrating women to raise awareness for gender equality
– Participate in local activities and campaigns
– Paint it purple – your building, canteen, playground, wear purple clothing
– Do a media interview
– Create images or film

Whatever you do – celebrate women, call for equality – and ‘Make it happen’

Why purple?
From 1908, the Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU) in Great Britain adopted the colour scheme of purple, white and green to symbolize the plight of the Suffragettes. Purple symbolised justice and dignity – two values strongly associated with women’s equality. The three colours were used for banners, flags, rosettes and badges to show solidarity.

So head to the official site and see how YOU can make it happen!

Also, gender equality advocate Emma Watson is sponsoring a live event on Sunday, which she announced on her Facebook page.

I hope you’ll join me on Sunday 8th of March at 1PM NYC/5PM London-time for a conversation about He For She and Gender Equality, live on Facebook. If you’re in London and would like to be there in person, tell me how you are making a personal impact to advance gender equality. Please submit your story, here: http://goo.gl/forms/dRzVjsdNSR, by 12PM London-time on Wednesday 4th of March and you could be selected to attend this special event as an audience member! Em x

Here is the International Women’s Day video:

As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Thanks for your support!


About the Author

Michael Anderson
I have loved technology for as long as I can remember - and have been a computer gamer since the PDP-10! Mobile Technology has played a major role in my life - I have used an electronic companion since the HP95LX more than 20 years ago, and have been a 'Laptop First' person since my Compaq LTE Lite 3/20 and Powerbook 170 back in 1991! As an avid gamer and gadget-junkie I was constantly asked for my opinions on new technology, which led to writing small blurbs ... and eventually becoming a reviewer many years ago. My family is my biggest priority in life, and they alternate between loving and tolerating my gaming and gadget hobbies ... but ultimately benefits from the addition of technology to our lives!