International Women’s Day (IWD) is a day I love to celebrate each year. IWD highlights the importance of women, the barriers we keep breaking but also the work that still needs to be done to bring gender equality into appropriate focus. And yet, this year feels a little different.
IWD Feels Different This Year
While I continue to work on the manuscript of my first book and my work with clients to empower women to show up powerfully, I can not help but think of the millions of women affected by the crisis in the Ukraine.
When I am able to hug my kids, I can not help but think of the Moms who are no longer able to hug their children. Or the women whose future is horrifically uncertain as they flee their homes and their country. When I am working, I think of the women who no longer have a job on which to depend. I also think of the Moms of the Russian soldiers who allegedly had no idea why they were entering into the Ukraine. I think of the pain of the Moms who can no longer guarantee safety for their children. I am conflicted this year, and maybe you are too. So in this post you will see two calls to action that reflect where my focus is for this IWD 2022.
Two Calls to Action IWD 2022
- How do YOU celebrate women in your organization? March is the month of International Women’s Day- it is a perfect time to plan programming and resources to empower the women of your organization. Help these women to increase their skill set and their potential for success in honor of IWD. Helping these women evolve and grow is a great way to celebrate IWD this year. Are you supporting the women of your organization in their quest for their own success? If so, how? What are the tangible efforts that show your support of women on your team/association/company/school? No plans? No worries! It is not too late- bring in a keynote speaker or training program (virtual or face-to-face) to honor and support women. Ahem, I just happen to know of one that can empower women to increase their credibility, likeability and influence through powerful communication behaviors and is listed as a International Women’s Day approved speaker. (see bio below for link.)
Now, taking care of things ‘at home’ is one thing but how do we reason our support of women when so much tragedy is happening halfway across the world? Maybe there is something you can do here, too?
- What can you do to support women affected by the Ukrainian crisis? Because I am not an expert in international humanitarian help, I found this helpful article in Forbes that focuses on ‘”simple ways to offer meaningful support during the crisis In Ukraine.” Thinking about this crisis, praying for peace, or consuming new updates throughout the day leaves me feeling as if there MUST be something else I can do. What a perfect time to research how best you can offer your support to women we likely will never meet, but ones that are desperate for support. Celebrate IWD 2022 by offering your support to Ukrainian women.
I do not know everything there is to know about how to advance gender equality throughout the world but I do know that taking action to support women only adds value. When women are treated equally, the world only benefits.
My hope is that whether you are in the US, working to push the mission of your organization forward or focused on the heartbreaking stories coming out through the crisis in the Ukraine, you can celebrate International Women’s Day by taking action.
This month start by taking action, in some small or big way to support women; those in your life or those around the world in crisis. Take action. Support women. Celebrate International Women’s Day 2022.
Meg Bucaro is an approved speaker for International Women’s Day, a communication strategist and college instructor who is passionate about empowering women to perform at their highest level by communicating with more comfort and confidence. She is especially passionate about positioning women for success by teaching them powerful communication behaviors. For more information on how to attract, retain and develop female talent, schedule a chat with Meg. https://megbucaro.com/contact/
