International Women's Day: How To Promote Women's Mental Health And Equity
Women worldwide can be celebrated and honored on International Women’s Day (IWD) each March. This holiday usually recognizes how women contribute to society, current events, and advances in gender equality and equity. To celebrate this year, it can be beneficial to learn more about women’s health and wellness, as well as to find ways to interact with women in your community and worldwide. International Women’s Day can also offer an opportunity to focus on your own health, whether that’s by scheduling an appointment with your doctor or attending a therapy session.
The significance and history of International Women’s Day
International Women’s Day is a federally recognized annual holiday on March 8 that was founded to celebrate women's “social, economic, cultural, and political achievements.”
The day generally focuses on the ideas of gender equity and inclusion and taking action to support women worldwide. The 2024 theme for International Women’s Day is “Inspire Inclusion,” which primarily focuses on including all women in the fight for equality and equity, including women from all backgrounds, gender expressions, races, ethnicities, and sexualities.
The first recognized International Women’s Day was held in March of 1911 and has now spanned over a century of celebration, collective action, and organization for women’s rights. IWD typically occurs during National Women’s History Month in March. The first efforts to create a unified movement are believed to have occurred on March 8th, 1857, with a march of female textile workers protesting unfair working conditions and unequal rights for women in the US.
The first international and official observation of International Women’s Day occurred in 1977 when the United Nations (UN) General Assembly invited all member states to proclaim this holiday an official UN holiday. It is celebrated in many countries worldwide and focuses on global women’s rights.
How to celebrate International Women’s Day
There can be many ways to celebrate International Women’s Day, regardless of gender or background. People worldwide may celebrate differently depending on culture and current political, economic, and social events. Below are several suggestions to consider.
Learn more about equity vs. equality
Meanwhile, equity generally refers to “fairness and justice.” Instead of everyone receiving the same treatment, equity can mean acknowledging the unique factors that put some groups at risk of oppression, maltreatment, and unfairness.
Because of these factors, women’s equity can mean meeting women where they’re at, understanding that they may be marginalized, and recognizing that they could require unique benefits, support, and resources that acknowledge their experiences and circumstances.
Women may also benefit from equality in certain areas, such as the workplace, where the gender pay gap can be a significant issue in various countries. Learning about these challenges can be a way to understand why International Women’s Day continues to be an important holiday worldwide.
Celebrate female pioneers in health and wellness
Many women have made strides in the mental and physical health and wellness spheres. Celebrating and remembering their efforts, as well as the efforts of current pioneers, can be a way to celebrate IWD. Below are a few women to consider:
- Marsha Linehan (1943 to present): Marsha Linehan, Ph.D., is the founder of dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), which she developed in response to her own diagnosis of borderline personality disorder (BPD).
- Martha Bernal (1931-2000): Martha was the first Latina to earn a Ph.D. in psychology in the US and developed the Ethnic Identity Questionnaire to help other BIPOC in mental healthcare.
- Dora Moono Nyambe (Present): Dora Moono Nyambe founded the organization NGO Footprints of Hope to educate, feed, and house the youth of Mapapa in Zambia. She founded this organization by going viral on TikTok and receiving donations to begin her work, which has saved hundreds of children from poverty, sexual abuse, and danger.
- Malala Yousafzai (Present): Malala Yousafzai is a Pakistani education activist who used her experiences of extreme abuse and gender-based violence to advocate for the education of girls worldwide.
- Bisan Owda (Present): Bisan Owda is a Palestinian filmmaker, activist, and journalist fighting for the rights of families, children, and Palestinian citizens of Gaza by updating the world on current events through social media.
If you or a loved one is experiencing abuse, contact the Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). Support is available 24/7.
Attend an event
Several events are officially organized through the International Women’s Day website. You can search these events by location or hold your own events locally to unite women where you live. Virtual events may allow you to meet with others over video chat or partake in interactive online activities.
Interact with female speakers, creators, and artists
Find female speakers, creators, and artists in your area or worldwide to support by viewing their work, sharing it on social media, or learning more about their stories. For example, you might listen to a lecture led by a female expert in her field or commission art from a female artist in your community.
To support women worldwide, consider buying art from women living in impoverished areas or donating to organizations that support creative projects for women and girls in communities where these resources might be scarcer.
Learn about and support women internationally
Several organizations fight for women's rights globally, especially in areas experiencing current crises. UN Women often enables individuals to get involved by staying informed, searching campaigns, and donating to organizations partnered with the UN.
If you don’t have money to donate, consider donating items to organizations looking for packages of clothes, non-perishable items, or medical supplies. You might also consider sharing the voices of women on social media who are fighting for women’s rights and current global emergencies. Other organizations that offer support can include the following:
- Global Fund for Women
- The Malala Fund
- Center for Reproductive Rights
- Instituto ProMundo
- Project CURE
- Planet AID (Clothing donations)
The importance of mental well-being on International Women’s Day
In a world facing various acts of gender violence, it can be challenging to cope with and celebrate IWD with a sense of optimism. Caring for your mental and physical health on International Women’s Day can be a way to show up more authentically and healthily for women in your life and worldwide. Below are a few potential ways to support yourself and others.
Getting check-ups
Physical and mental health check-ups can be crucial for understanding your current health status. Women with gynecological reproductive systems may ask their doctors if it would be beneficial to partake in the following check-ups:
- Pap smears
- Breast examinations (mammograms)
- An internal ultrasound of the vagina, uterus, and ovaries
Women with an androgynal reproductive system may benefit from talking to their doctors about the following procedures:
- Prostate cancer screenings
- Testicular cancer screenings
- Hormone level testing
You can also ask your doctor about depression, anxiety, and suicide risk screenings, which can be done at a primary care clinic. If you are experiencing mental health challenges, your doctor may also refer you to a therapist, psychiatrist, or psychologist for further support.
If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts or urges, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988. Support is available 24/7.
Ensuring gender inclusion
Part of ensuring mental wellness for all women can be including women from all backgrounds in women’s rights efforts, fitting the 2024 theme of IWD: “Inspire Inclusion.”
To guarantee the wellness of others in your community, you might ensure you use gender-inclusive language and include all women in women’s events, including transgender women, intersex women, and non-binary people who identify with the “woman” label.
Women in the LGBTQIA+ community, especially BIPOC transgender women, tend to have a higher risk of suicide, mental health disorders, substance use, and social isolation.
It can be crucial to create spaces where transphobia is not present so that all women can access services and communities that benefit them. In addition, you might speak up when you hear transphobic comments. Gender-inclusive language for International Women’s Day can include the following:
- Using “gynecological reproductive system” and “androgynal reproductive system” instead of “female reproductive system” and “male reproductive system”
- Asking what terms someone uses to refer to their gender and pronouns
- Avoiding conflating womanhood with vaginas, vulvas, or any particular anatomy
- Including check-ups for all body types in a “women’s health screening”
- Considering the unique needs of trans and non-binary people when talking about mental or physical health in women’s spaces
If you’re an LGBTQIA+ youth or young adult in crisis, reach out to The Trevor Project hotline by calling 1-866-488-7386 or texting “START” to 678-678. You can also use their online chat.
Partaking in self-care
Self-care can be another way to ensure mental health and well-being for IWD. Consider the following forms of self-care:
- Having a spa day or relaxation day at home focused on sensory experiences
- Eating nourishing foods that make you happy
- Exercising or partaking in physical activity of some sort
- Journaling or writing poetry
- Writing a story
- Singing or playing an instrument
- Going for a walk in nature
- Attending a comedy show
- Watching your favorite movie or TV show
- Crafting or otherwise creating something
- Taking a break from high-stress activities
- Asking for help from loved ones
- Having meaningful conversations
- Learning something new, such as a language or school of philosophy
- Knowing when to slow down
Asking for help
According to the Office on Women’s Health in the US, more than one in five women may experience a mental health condition. Getting regular screenings for mental illness and suicide risk can be crucial to ensuring your well-being. However, therapy can be another beneficial resource, and you don’t have to be diagnosed with a mental illness or live with one to get support. Therapy can benefit people living with life stress, relationship conflict, and difficult decisions or transitions.
However, some women may face barriers to in-person care, such as location, finances, or anxiety regarding speaking to a professional face-to-face. In these cases, online therapy platforms like BetterHelp may be beneficial. Anyone worldwide can access the platform, and clients can choose to be matched with a woman, BIPOC, or LGBTQIA+ therapist if it makes them most comfortable. In addition, clients can choose between phone, video, or live chat sessions.
A 2022 meta-analysis revealed that online therapy typically produces the same client outcomes as in-person therapy, potentially making it a valid treatment option for a variety of mental health challenges and concerns.
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