Put on your power suit and grab a protest sign, because it’s March 8th and you know what that means – it’s officially International Women’s Day. Today is the day women all across the globe unite to celebrate being female, acknowledge the contributions women have made towards society and recognize the changes that need to be made for gender equality worldwide.
The theme for IWD this year is “Balance For Better.” #BalanceForBetter calls for gender balance across the world. “Let’s build a gender-balanced world. Everyone has a part to play – all the time, everywhere,” says the IWD official website.
By supporting one of these six feminist organizations, you can honor International Women’s Day and help women all around the world #BalanceForBetter.
Girls Not Brides
Each year, 12 million girls – some as young as 8 – are married before they reach the age of 18. Girls Not Brides wants to change that. Girls Not Brides is a global partnership of over 1000 civil society organizations committed to ending child marriage. It aims to raise awareness of the harmful impact of child marriage by encouraging open discussions; facilitate learning and coordination between organizations working to end child marriage and mobilize all necessary policies in order to end child marriage.
You can aid the Girls Not Brides mission by visiting the “Take Action” tab on their website.
CAMFED
CAMFED, or the Campaign for Female Education, envisions a world where every child is educated. They are an international non-profit organization that tackles inequality by helping girls go to school and succeed. Their focus is on young women in rural areas of sub-Saharan Africa where girls face acute disadvantage.
Find out how to give to CAMFED by visiting the “Get Involved” tab on their website.
Dress For Success Worldwide
Dress For Success is an international nonprofit organization that aids women in becoming financially independent by providing tools to help them succeed in work and in life. Dress For Success provides each client with professional attire for job interviews, as well as a network of support to help them secure employment.
Click here to learn how to get involved with Dress For Success.
Planned Parenthood
Planned Parenthood has been a trusted source for low-cost sexual and reproductive healthcare since 1916. Planned Parenthood’s services include abortion, birth control, general health care, STD testing/treatment and LGBT services (such as hormone therapy for transgender patients). Planned Parenthood receives over a third of its funding through government grants, but pro-life groups have been pushing for the government to stop funding Planned Parenthood. If this happens, Planned Parenthood would be unable to perform many of its services.
You can get involved with Planned Parenthood here.
Days For Girls
Days for Girls increases access to menstrual care and education by developing global partnerships, cultivating social enterprises, mobilizing volunteers and innovating sustainable solutions that shatter stigmas and limitations for women and girls. Their movement has reached over 1 million girls and counting.
There are many ways to get involved with Days For Girls – learn more here.
Time’s Up Legal Defense Fund
If you’ve been anywhere near the Internet within the past year, you’ve heard of the #TimesUp and #MeToo movements. The Time’s Up Legal Defense Fund supports the individuals who have come forward about their experiences. The Fund connects survivors of sexual harassment in the workplace with high-quality lawyers, as well as assisting in legal fees. Someday, rape and sexual harassment will be a thing of the past. But until then, the Time’s Up Legal Defense Fund will support survivors and bring perpetrators to justice.
You can Take Action with the Time’s Up Fund here, and donate here.
Happy International Women’s Day!
Featured image via Twitter
