BY Humaira
March 8th is International Women’s Day, a celebration of the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The first IWD occurred in 1911, supported by over one million people and now it has become a global movement.
I’m thrilled that so many people are taking the time to put so much importance on March 8th, which also happens to be my wedding anniversary...we’re on year 23, but my hope is that we do something every day of the year — By…
Our Actions: support female candidates, women-run businesses and vote.
Our Comments: stop judging girls in your life by their weight, looks and fashion choices.
Our Mindset: stop saying female candidates can’t win or are shrill, or are too aggressive or not aggressive enough.
Our Modeling: don’t put up with or engage with demeaning language (Hillary is a bitch, Warren is shrill)…your daughters and sons are listening.
Our Judgements: stop gossiping and tearing down other women even if they are doing things that don’t align with your values. Everyone is responsible for their life decisions.
We’ve come a long but we have a long way to go…
“The story of women’s struggle for equality belongs to no single feminist nor to any one organization but to the collective efforts of all who care about human rights”
We are all parts of a whole and that is why it’s important to give our girls the knowledge that they too can be the next president, CEO, nurse, mayor, astronaut, homemaker, plumber and the only thing that stands between them and what they want to achieve in our society.
So be the adult in the room and buy every girl in your life a copy of Diana Kapp’s book, Girls Who Run the World: 31 CEOs Who Mean Business. Let’s work together every day toward #EqualforEqual.
Also, if you are in the Bay Area, I hope you are able to join me on March 13th where I’m a speaker at the Hayward International Women’s Day celebration a free event and on Sunday, March 8th I’m being recognized for my advocacy by the Afghan Women’s Association, also in Hayward (Flier attached)
This post is dedicated to my friend Yalda Sarwar, she knows why.