Today is International Women’s Day (IWD). IWD was started in1911 to celebrate the economic, political and social achievements of women worldwide. IWD is an official holiday in China, Armenia, Russia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Vietnam. The theme of this year’s IWD is “Equal rights, equal opportunity: Progress for all.”
Here are five things you can do to celebrate the day:
1. Support equal pay. Women still earn, on average, only .77 cents for every dollar a man earns. For women of color the gap is even greater. Despite the signing of the Lilly Ledbetter Act at the start of last year, we are not making progress in this area. The wage gap has widened. Let your senators know we need them to pass the Paycheck Fairness Act.
2. Support a woman candidate. Make a donation or volunteer your time and help get a competent women elected. Better yet, why don’t you run for office? Organizations like the Women’s Campaign Forum and Emily’s List support pro-women candidates with coaching and fundraising. Start by visiting She Should Run. Women bring much-needed diversity, unique perspectives, creativity, hard work and problem-solving to public office.
3. Support healthcare reform. Healthcare should not be a political issue. It is a matter of equity. Call your legislators today and tell them to pass healthcare reform. Women deserve equal coverage for equal premiums. We are not preexisting conditions and we deserve the full spectrum of coverage – including reproductive health.
4. So while you’re at it, tell Congress to stop Rep. Stupak and demand comprehensive reproductive healthcare. You can also share this video from Pathfinder International and help support reproductive rights for women worldwide.
5. Support yourself. Brag a little. Tell your friends, family and or coworkers about something positive you did. Don’t hold back. Let the world know, one woman at a time, about the achievements of women –starting with you.
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