Happy International Women’s Day.
Today we celebrate the women in our lives.
The daughters, mothers, sisters, friends, spouses, leaders and trailblazers.
Continuing a tradition that started over 100 years ago, in 1909, International Women’s Day honours all women, as “equal partners with men in achieving sustainable development, peace, security, and full respect for human rights.”
Here’s our top 8 ways to let your girls know you’ve got their back.
Call a friend on the telephone
It’s a simple way to let a lady in your life know that you’re thinking about them.
Whether it’s ringing your Mum on speed dial or seeking out the number of an old friend, you’ve been meaning to get around to contacting, make this year’s International Women’s Day a celebration of the strong, courageous, and kind-hearted women in a your life.
Write a letter to your children
The art of handwriting and postage mail may be getting lost in a decade of e-communication, but a well thought-out and hand crafted letter still evokes strong passion in both writer and readers.
To mark the birth of his daughter Max in late 2015, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Dr. Priscilla Chan wrote an open letter to their new offspring. In the post they detailed their hopes and desires for her future and expressed their love for the long-awaited newborn.
This is not the first time parents have taken to technology to create an epistolary footprint. In 2011, Google’s Dear Sophie campaign went viral, inspired by a Father who set up an email account for his young daughter. The narrative tells her via email all about the important moments and milestones as they happen, as well as some giggling videos she’ll be sure to cringe at when she turns eighteen.
Compliment a woman in customer service
Always in a hurry to get in and out of the grocery aisles a.s.a.p? You’re not alone, but spare a thought for the ladies, behind the checkout next time you swipe your rewards card. It only takes a minute, but a kind and thoughtful word to a woman on the end of a shift, might just put a spring her step. Standing for five hours straight is no mean feat, not forgetting the need to contend with heavy trolley traffic and listening to the same old supermarket soundtrack on repeat, day in and day out.
You’ll be surprised to see how much faster your order will be taken, or your bags laden if the customer staff feel engaged and appreciated.
Write a positive comment on a social media post
It only takes a second, smiley face. Spending hours to create the perfect post only to realise that no one is reading your feed can be a little disheartening, even sharing something personal on your timeline in the hopes of connecting with other like-minded people is daunting.
Next time you’re on social media, and you admire a post, pause the scroll and do something more then just like. A kind-hearted comment on social media is like a spoonful of sugar, something sweet that makes the world seem brighter and friendlier.
Send flowers to a special woman in your life
Pop up flower shops are the perfect way to make customized gift giving simpler and easier. It doesn’t have to be a birthday or romantic occasion to send flowers.
With small business personalized delivery services like Little Flowers blooming all over the place, send a bouquet and note to a woman anonymously for a job well done, it’s not everyday a girl gets flowers. Gifted correctly, a bunch of posys and daisy chains leave a sweet scent in both hearts and offices.
Generously tip a female waitress to acknowledge the gender pay gap
Getting ready to tip a female waitress after a pleasant meal out? It’s likely that over her lifetime she’ll earn 24% less than her male counterparts, according to recent data from the Federal Government’s Workplace Gender Equality Agency.
It’s not just in the wage gap either where the discrepancy occurs, women are less likely to serve on boards or hold senior managerial positions than men.
Next time the sommelier does a stellar job with the wine list, or the female cab driver takes the most direct, traffic free route possible, compliment her with a generous tip for proving that girls can do whatever they set their mind to.
Learn how you can make a difference to local women in need
Each day is Australia, one woman is hospitalised every three hours, as a result of
domestic violence. This year, the United Nations in Australia has dedicated
International Women’s Day to preventing violence against women and girls, both at home and more broadly in the pacific region.
Former Australian of the year, Rosie Batty has become a tireless campaigner for a better and safer community for women and children. To find our more about how you can notice tell tale signs of domestic violence and ways you can help, visit White Ribbon Australia or Never Alone (Luke Batty Foundation).
Support the United Nations Australian International Women’s Day 2016
Make a donation to the United Nations International Women’s Day Effort,
at https://faceittogether.unwomen.org.au/ and share your story on social media
#FaceItTogether
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David Jones has released the new series ‘Women in Conversation’ in celebration of International Women’s Day. The series features round table discussions with a group of influential and inspiring Australian women speaking about the important issues relating to women in today’s society.
Watch below for first episode of the empowering ‘Women in Conversation’ series