It’s been over a century since women first started fighting for their rights and their place in the world. Yet, despite all the progress we’ve made, we are still struggling for global equality. Discrimination in the workplace, institutions, and governments continue to limit access to healthcare, education, and fair pay. On average, women still earn less than men for the same work, and this gap is even wider for women of color. Not only are women often paid less than men for doing the same work, they are underrepresented in leadership and high-paying industries. While we are beginning to see growth, especially in the last five years, in the number of female CEO’s and Fortune 500 leaders, there is still much work to do. Enough for generations.

This International Women’s Day, consider some of the ways you can create more equity for others.

1. Advocate for policies that promote gender equality and laws that promote gender equality, such as equal pay, equal representation in leadership, and laws that protect women from discrimination and violence.

2. Address workplace discrimination and work to create equal opportunities for women in the workplace, including equal pay, equal promotion opportunities, and equal representation in leadership positions.

3. Challenge gender stereotypes and biases that perpetuate gender inequality, and work to create a culture that values and respects women’s contributions in all spheres of life.

4. Promote access to education for women and girls, as education is a powerful tool for promoting gender equality and empowering women.

5. Promote women’s health and well-being by supporting access to quality healthcare, reproductive rights, and maternal health services. (If you are looking for resources to promote wellness, you can use our free mental health animations.)

6. Support women-owned businesses and female entrepreneurs by purchasing products and services from women-owned businesses, mentoring and investing in women-owned startups, and advocating for policies that support women’s entrepreneurship. You can read more about the [women and Brooklyn businesses] we met with while creating our IWD 2023 video.

7. Listen and amplify women’s voices and perspectives in all spheres of life, including in the workplace, in politics, and in the media.

If all of that sounds daunting, start with that last one. You can follow and listen to our list of Top Voices on DEI on LinkedIn.

Shelli Witt, Producer

shelli.witt@shootyou.com