March 8 is known as International Women’s Day (IWD) and is celebrated throughout the world as a way to honor women’s rights, address gender-based violence, and work toward a future of gender equity and justice. This year’s IWD theme is “Choose to Challenge” (#ChooseToChallenge). Here are some tangible ways you can engage in the meaning of International Women’s Day this year:
Reflect: How does gender inequity show up in your workplace, school setting, etc.? In reflecting on your own knowledge of women’s rights, what parts of history are you familiar with, and which parts less so?
Learn: Take some time to learn about women who were/are trailblazers in various fields such as science, art, law etc. There are many such individuals whose history is less widely known, and in every country - maybe there’s someone whose story you’ll connect with!
Be inclusive: In celebrating a global day of women’s rights and equality, the focus is on gender justice. This means celebrating all women: cis women, trans women, Black women, disabled women, queer women, Indigenous women, etc. - any and all people who are disproportionately impacted by gender inequities.
Challenge: As this year’s theme implies, what are ways you can challenge gender-based stereotypes and the status quo? For instance, calling out sexist assumptions or biases, doing some research into pay disparities in your career/field based on gender, etc.
This month Looking Glass Counseling is making a donation to RESPOND, Inc. a non-profit organization dedicated to ending domestic violence.
Jen Brown, LICSW is a licensed independent clinical social worker who has been in clinical practice since 2014. She received her MSW and Certificate in Urban Leadership in clinical social work from Simmons University School of Social Work. She has worked in outpatient mental health and integrative settings in community health centers, college mental health, and in affordable housing. Jen has experience working with depression and other mood disorders, anxiety, trauma/PTSD, substance use and addiction, ADHD, identity shifts/adjustment issues, chronic illness, body image concerns, and relationship issues.
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