What To Do on International Women’s Day in 2021

Every year something magical happens on March 8: we unite to celebrate the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women across the globe and across the span of time. In recent years, major cities have held parades, rallies, demonstrations, and festivals to both celebrate achievements and demand women’s equality.

Many Americans tend to think that women and men are equal, but the facts tell a different story. In November 2020, I had the honor and privilege of speaking at the Society of Women Engineers WE20 Conference with two colleagues. We discussed the causes and solution to the gender gap in the workforce, or why only 7% of Fortune 500 CEOs are female although 48% of American entry-level employees are women. Hint: The gender gap starts at the entry-level, because men are being promoted faster than women. This is NOT due to lack of ambition or women leaving the workforce early to “focus on children and family,” as I too often hear to justify misogyny and sexism. In fact, one of the telltale signs of the inequality between men and women remains how in 2020, American women were still only making 81 cents for every dollar a man makes. If we’re so equal, why aren’t we being paid equally?

To make matters worse, the slow, yet increasing numbers of women we have seen in the workforce may be decimated as a result of COVID-19 hardships. According to a McKinsey & Co. Women in the Workplace 2020 study, “More than one in four women are contemplating…downshifting their careers or leaving the workforce completely.” So what can you do to help?

Learn About Unconscious Biases Women Face

Use Women’s History Month (March) and International Women’s Day (March 8th) to learn more about the adversity women have suffered in both the workplace and as citizens over the centuries. Learn about the blatant biases women used to endure and the unconscious biases women still face every day, either by well-meaning, but uninformed individuals or unapologetic misogynists.

If you still don’t believe me despite the facts given above that we have a gender inequality issue and unconscious biases still impede and hinder the performance of women as seen by their male counterparts, learn from at least one of the experts in the subject below and amplify their voice:

Attend a Virtual Celebration for International Women’s Day

In honor of International Women’s Day, The National Museum of Women in the Arts (NMWA) is hosting a virtual celebration. No matter where you are, you can attend an online class or program hosted by the museum staff and artists that highlight and honor women in the arts. Register for the Zoom sessions using the links below!

• Anytime after 11 am: check the website to tune into:
  • American preconceptions of Middle Eastern and Muslim women
  • Works and themes in NMWA’s new exhibition Sonya Clark: Tatter, Bristle, and Mend
  • Children’s books authored or illustrated by women
• 11 am: Can you name #5WomenArtists? Even (and especially) in the art world, women remain underrepresented and undervalued in museums, galleries, and auction houses. Attend this talk to continue this global conversation. Georgia O’Keeffe is one of my favorites!
• 1 pm: Explore the legacies and art of three international festivals of women artists
• 2 pm: Hear from Pita Lopez, Georgia O’Keeffe’s former personal secretary and the former Georgia O’Keeffe Foundation’s Executive Director
• 3 pm: (SOLD OUT) join NMWA educators for an informal 45-minute art chat about selected artworks from NMWA’s collection
• 4:30 pm: (SOLD OUT) Unable to visit the museum in person? Drop into this interactive, docent-led talk to look closely at and discuss artworks from the museum’s collection. After this special International Women’s Day tour, Collection Highlights Talks regularly occur the second Wednesday of each month, 5:30–6:30 p.m. (ET) and the fourth Saturday of each month, 1–2 (ET)
• 5:30 pm: Artful Cocktail Class with Andra “AJ” Johnson. You know I signed up for this!
• 6:30 pm: Women musicians perform original work via live-stream on the museum’s social media channels. Each session includes a short interview, conducted over a cup of tea, which explores the artist’s creative process

Support Female Owned/Founded Businesses

Are you really going to keep buying cosmetics from a company owned and founded by a man… who has never worn or applied cosmetics a day in his life? Sure hope not. Start looking into Milk Makeup, Lawless, Ilia, and Westman Atelier, some of my current clean beauty favorites (look for an upcoming post giving the full scoop on my makeup and skincare routine).

Only 2.8% of venture capital went to all female-founded companies in the U.S. in 2019. Or roughly 97% of the $130 BILLION in U.S. startup venture capital went to companies led only by men. Women need our help and support starting up their own companies now more than ever. Is there a female-owned coffee shop, hair/nail salon, cafe, boutique, etsy shop, or other small business you can support?

Some of my favorite and popular female-founded companies in the DC area include:

• Sweets:
  • Milkbar
  • Georgetown Cupcake
  • Ice Cream Jubilee
  • Buttercream Bakeshop
• Framebridge: online and affordable custom frames
• Proper Topper: more than a hat shop!
• Ann Hand: jeweler famous for designing official pins worn by spouses of House of Representatives and brooches worn by the Armed Services, Naval Academy, and West Point
• Poppy: online florist
• Steadfast Supply: flagship in DC, support small businesses across the globe
• Take Care: natural skincare
• Lettie Gooch: clothing boutique
• East City Book Shop: independent book shop
• More DC female-owned food and drink options

What other female-owned businesses would you recommend? Leave your suggestions in the comments below!