Happy International Women's Day!
Today is an opportunity to acknowledge the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women, and also to raise awareness of continued inequality.
We’re committed to continually listening and learning, so we’re sharing 5 simple ways to blend a IWD celebration into your daily coffee ritual:
1. Joining the conversation with The Social Outfit’s Panel
2. Getting inspired by one of Greta Thunbergs speeches
3. Watching to Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s TEDx Talk
4. Finding new female-first podcasts
5. Donating your lunch money, or old threads, to Dress for Success
1. Join the conversation
In celebration of International Women’s Day The Social Outfit are hosting a ‘Women of the Social Outfit’ panel discussion at their Newtown Shop on the 11th March. They will be discussing the kind of feminine leadership this world needs, representation, identity, self-expression, fashion, intersectionality and the future we want to create.
The Social Outfit are a social enterprise and registered charity who provide workplace training and first jobs for our refugee and new migrant community.
Feeling like some laughter instead, Harry's Pub in Sydney is throwing an all female comedy night, which is sure to be a ripper!
Or maybe you're a bit strapped for time and a digital event is better? The Sydney Opera House’s ‘All About Women Festival’ panel discussions will all be free to stream for 2 weeks from 7th March.
2. Get Inspired by one of Greta's speeches
Greta Thunberg (not so gently) reminds us that we all need to take urgent action, and awakens the inner-activist in you no matter how powerless you may feel.
If you have time, pick up a copy of ‘No One Is too Small to Make a Difference’, a collection of her inspiring speeches, from rallies to the UN Climate Summit. If you don’t, here’s one of our favourite excerpts:
“Adults keep saying: “We owe it to the young people to give them hope.” But I don’t want your hope. I don’t want you to be hopeful. I want you to panic. I want you to feel the fear I feel every day. And then I want you to act.
I want you to act as you would in a crisis. I want you to act as if our house is on fire. Because it is.”
Greta Thunberg is a 16-year-old Swedish climate activist and Nobel Peace Prize nominee. She started and organised the world’s largest climate protest #FridayForFuture, which she began by skipping school to protest climate crisis outside of the local parliament house.
3. Watch Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s TEDx Talk
“Culture does not make people, people make culture”
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, a Nigerian Writer, delivers a compelling and humorous TEDx Talk on why ‘We should all be feminists’ which started a worldwide conversation on feminism. She dissects the misconceptions and meaning behind feminism, and is optimistic about an equal future where both men and women can be truer to themselves.
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie inspires us to stand up for what’s right, regardless of gender, and do better for future generations.
4. Find a new favourite female-first podcast
“Fashion keeps women like me in rich countries supplied with pretty shoes and frocks, at ever cheaper prices; it is our sisters in poorer countries who pay the true cost."
‘The Wardrobe Crisis' Podcast is presented by Clare Press, a journalist and author who was Vogue’s very first Sustainability Editor. An advocate for sustainable fashion, her weekly podcast takes a deep dive into the social and environmental issues of the fashion industry, interviewing leading designers, change-makers and academics amplifying the voices that need to be heard the most.
You can hear more on arts & culture from these fearless maverick women featured on 'The Last Bohemians' podcast. And for the parents out there, you might want to sip your coffee alongside Janet Lanbury’s soothing voice on her ‘Unruffled' podcast, where she gives her expert advice on toddler meltdowns and defiance.
5. Donate your lunch money
Dress for Success is a global nonprofit organisation on a mission to empower women to achieve economic independence by providing a network of support, professional clothing and tools to help women thrive in work and in life. And if you don’t have any spare cash, why not donate old clothes, shoes or accessories to the cause.
Last but not least, one of the best ways to join the conversation is making time to speak to the wonderful women in your life, so don’t forget to tell them how much they mean to you.
As a footnote, you might be wondering why we're talking to you about International Women's Day. To answer, (aside the fact that without great women in our lives this company wouldn't exist) it's because gender equality and human rights injustices are intrinsically linked to environmental protection. Without one, we can not have the other. In fact, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals prioritises Gender Equality as its 5th most important initiative; before clean water and sanitation, responsible consumption, and climate action.
