Ways To Celebrate International Women’s Day
International Women’s Day (IWD) is just around the corner and there is so much you can do to celebrate this wonderful day. Whether it is a simple get together at home or a workplace event, women’s day should always be about celebrating the women around you. Plan ahead and make this women’s day an unforgettable one for the women in your life.
What is International Women’s Day?
Celebrated on 8th March, International Women’s Day is a day dedicated to honouring political and cultural achievements over the years. International Women’s Day became one of the most important events worldwide bringing attention to topics such as gender equality, violence against women and reproductive rights.
The universal female suffrage movement gave rise to labour movements in North America and Europe which brought on the initial celebration of IWD. It was only adopted by the global feminist movement in the 1960s and was officially recognised by the United Nations in 1977.
International Women’s Day is celebrated all around the world on the same day and is considered a public holiday in some countries. Every year a theme or issue is associated with IWD and the 2022 IWD theme is #BreakTheBarrier. Additionally, the colour purple is also associated with this day and is said to signify justice and dignity.
Plan Home Activities
It is always fun to have friends and family over. But it’s even more fun when you have activities specifically designed for the women in the family or your female friends. The best part about these activities is that they can all be done inside the house or in your backyard.
Be Your Own Picasso
There is something very therapeutic about throwing some colours on a canvas. You can have a painting session of your own with acrylic colours, canvases, easels and more. One doesn’t have to be an artist to paint. Just take a breath and paint anything you want, play with colours and take a break from your daily routine.
Another exciting painting activity would be creating a group painting. This may involve getting some paint on yourself. We would recommend doing this outdoors. Get yourself the biggest canvas you can, some good acrylic paint and water balloons. You can fill up the water balloons with the thinned down paint and throw it at the canvas. This won’t just be therapeutic but extremely fun and the result will be a colourful abstract painting.
At-Home Photoshoot
Learning the basics of photography is not that hard nowadays especially with photography tips being a common thing on social media platforms. Ask all your female friends and family members to dress up the way they want. Just warn them that they will be photographed (women are particular about that!). This way every woman is the model as well as the photographer. You can come up with your themes or just try to get amazing pictures for your profile.
When it comes to doing a photoshoot, you don’t need the best camera in the market although having a DSLR would always be helpful. Smartphones are great for photoshoots. Moreover, you have so many different camera modes you can use on your phone that can give you the perfect photo every time. Additionally, if you want to join the trend of polaroids just conduct the entire photoshoot using a polaroid camera.
Movie Night
Appreciate the art of filmmaking by watching some amazing movies made by female directors. See the world through a woman’s perspective on the big screen. However, movie night requires some planning. So, make sure you have enough snacks and drinks. You can buy yourself a pack of 10-12 wines to help you and your female companions through the night.
Outdoor Weekend Activities
These activities can be carried out on the weekend before International Women’s Day or after. Furthermore, most outdoor activities can be carried out with your friends, family and coworkers. So, if you want it to be a team-building exercise and a women’s appreciation activity, outdoor activities are perfect for you. Most outdoor activities would require great weather conditions, so look out for rainy and stormy days beforehand.
Hike and Camp
Who said women don’t enjoy hiking and camping? It’s an activity enjoyed by many people and is a very common activity among Australians. If the weather allows it then you should go out for a hike over the weekend and enjoy a nice campfire with the girls. Make sure you have good quality hiking and camping equipment for the occasion. Good equipment is a necessity when you’re out on your own in the mountains or a forest.
A Day at the Beach
Plan a trip with all your female friends to the beach. Enjoy the waves and the sun with a nice chilled drink. You can turn it into a day trip if you drive to a beach slightly far away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Breathe in the clean air, swim through the clear blue waters or surf the beautiful waves. Beach trips are a great way to unwind and bond.
Discover a Bike Trail
Start your day early with your group of friends or all your female family members. Rent a bicycle or get your own bike to bike around the local area. A bike trip allows you to discover new trails and sights. It can be a great activity for people who like to explore areas or people who just want to unwind. Moreover, you can end your bike ride with a picnic in the park and then digest all the food on the ride back. Furthermore, this is an activity that is great for a workplace activity as well.
Ideas for Women’s Day Celebration in Office
Women’s Day celebration in the office can be really important. It is an event that is meant to celebrate the achievements of women over the year. It is also a time to remember the issues women still face especially at the workplace.
Women’s Day Trivia
Here’s a little fun activity for everyone in the office. Conduct a quick trivia session with all your employees. There are a lot of trivia questions related to women’s history and women’s day history. This will allow your employees to learn a little more about why women’s day is celebrated.
A Casual Coffee Discussion
For workplace activities, it is always better to include the men in the conversation as well. A women’s day coffee or lunch event can be good to encourage a healthy discussion about certain topics. Women’s safety, workplace inequality, sexual health and what a woman experiences on a daily basis are good topics, to begin with. These topics may not seem revolutionary but it’s the small things that can be truly shocking for some people.
Information sessions
Men have always been associated with certain aspects of our everyday life such as filing tax returns, handling shares, car repairs, etc. An important step in breaking the barrier would be to learn such things and not have to depend on somebody else for help. You can conduct a women’s day special information session where women are given the knowledge and means to handle such things. It’s another step towards achieving independence and being considered equals with another gender.
Let’s Recognise Everyone
This women’s day, let’s not just keep it all about women but give recognition to people who identify as females, men and non-binary people. In order to achieve the equality and fairness women hope to achieve, everyone needs to be included in the conversation. Women’s Day is not just about celebrating the achievements of the female race but also the long journey they still have ahead of them.
With workplace activities, you should always include everyone to promote gender equality. The conversation about gender and workplace equality will only make a difference if every voice is heard.
Appreciate The Women In Your Life
Whether it is a partner, sister, mother, grandmother or friend, show your appreciation to the women in your life on this day. A simple “thank you” can make a lot of difference. Additionally, you can take them out for a meal or fun activity. You can also just stay at home and cook for them.
Appreciating the women in your life doesn’t mean you have to make a big gesture. A small activity or even something like helping them with chores at home is enough.
