32 activities to help accelerate action for women's equality on IWD and beyond

International Women's Day (IWD) provides an important opportunity to celebrate women's achievements, advocate for gender equality, and inspire communities.

IWD activity varies greatly across countries, organizations, and groups.

From large-scale events to grassroots impact, each year IWD sees a wide range of impressive support and collaborative participation.

Remember, all IWD activity is valid. That's what makes IWD so inclusive, not exclusive.
 

Consider some of these ideas to mark IWD 

Looking for ideas regarding the types of events and activity to host for IWD?

Consider some of these ideas or share your own ideas for others to benefit from.
 

How can you support IWD?

Here are 32 meaningful ways to support IWD and contribute to its mission of celebrating women and advancing gender equality.
 

1. Attend or organize an IWD event and/or support a friend or colleague to also attend.
    
2. Join or host a conference, panel discussion, workshop, or community gathering focused on women’s achievements, challenges, or empowerment.
    
3. Organize meetups and networking events for women professionals, entrepreneurs, or creatives to connect, share ideas, and form supportive communities.
    
4. Host workshops and/or skill-building sessions on leadership development, financial literacy, career advancement, or personal empowerment tailored for women.
    
5. Participate in panel discussions and/or give keynote speeches sharing key insight on topics like gender equality, breaking barriers, accelerating action for gender parity, or personal journeys.
    
6. Screen gender-related films, documentaries, or movies that highlight women's stories, struggles, and triumphs, followed by a discussion or Q&A session.
    
7. Support women-focused charities and community organizations by donating and/or organizing fundraising drives, mentorship programs, or volunteering activities that benefit women and girls.
    
8. Run career fairs or job shadowing programs with organizations to provide opportunities for women and girls to explore careers, network with potential employers, or gain professional mentorship.
    
9. Run and/or support awards ceremonies to recognize and celebrate women who have made significant contributions in various fields, including education, business, or community service.
    
10. Support organizations that work toward women’s rights, education, healthcare, or economic empowerment.
     
11. Run health and wellness events in communities to connect via physical activity, offering collaborative exercise and/or movement classes, mental health workshops, or discussions on women's health issues, encouraging self-care and well-being.
     
12. Support women-owned businesses and join the call to make IWD events 100% women-owned business supplied.
     
13. Purchase products or services from women entrepreneurs and highlight their work on social media.
     
14. Advocate for gender equality in the workplace.
     
15. Push for fair pay, equal opportunities, and policies like paid parental leave or anti-harassment training in your workplace.
     
16. Educate yourself and others about feminism, equal rights, barriers, bias, and gender stereotypes.
     
17. Read books or watch documentaries about women’s rights movements and notable female leaders, sharing what you learn with friends, family, colleagues, and/or followers.
     
18. Offer your time to local organizations that specifically help women, such as shelters for survivors of domestic violence or mentorship programs for young girls.
     
19. Mentor or sponsor women to help them identify and achieve their goals and needs.
     
20. Offer guidance and support to women in your field or community to help them advance personally and professionally.
     
21. Call out gender bias every time you see, hear or witness it, and actively challenge stereotypes, discrimination, or microaggressions.
     
22. Advocate for the education of girls and promote programs that inspire girls to pursue careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields.
     
23. Support programs or campaigns that work to ensure girls have access to quality education, especially in underserved areas.
     
24. Amplify women’s voices by providing a platform or visibility to highlight and promote their work, stories, and contributions in industry or the community.
     
25. Wear or display purple, which is the prime color of IWD, encouraging your friends, family and colleagues, and/or followers to do so also, showing solidarity with the cause.
     
26. Actively engage in social media campaigns and activity by featuring women's inspiring stories, quotes, or challenges to help raise awareness and encourage further participation and solidarity.
     
27. Include men in discussions about gender equality and emphasize the importance of allyship in achieving positive change, encouraging them to participate in IWD's wide-ranging activity.
     
28. Advocate for policy change by writing to local or national leaders to push for legislation that addresses gender inequality, such as closing the gender pay gap or combating gender-based violence.
     
29. Create safe spaces for women and work toward ensuring your workplace, community, or organization is inclusive and free from discrimination or harassment.
     
30. Showcase and support the work of women creatives - artists, musicians, performers, and more - through exhibitions, concerts, or poetry readings to celebrate women's creativity, and purchase their work.
     
31. Highlight and share inspiring stories of trailblazing women in history or those making a difference today, especially in your community, regarding their perseverance, tenacity or success in order to inspire the personal and professional journeys of others.
     
32. Make a commitment by pledging to take ongoing action—whether by mentoring, advocating for equality, or continuously educating yourself—to support women beyond IWD.
     

Each of these actions contributes to the broader goals of IWD, which are to celebrate progress, challenge inequalities, and inspire change.

What will your IWD activity look like?

IWD activity can be tailored to resonate with IWD's focus for the year, your own key objectives and requirements, and the specific audience you wish to engage.

Most importantly, make IWD your day. Make its relevance and focus match your specific area of interest, influence, and work.

And remember, IWD is powered by the collective efforts of all. As Gloria Steinem once explained: "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."

Let's all be part of that collaborative positive journey!