Celebrating Women’s Day: Empowering Change and Equality
Women’s Day – 8th March – a day celebrating women and all things associated with her and in the past few years has gained a lot of hype and commercial importance. A lot of ads/videos and promos show the power of being a woman.
the importance of being a woman; stores having offers and discounts, gift shops tempting with the what will make a woman beautiful.. what they deserve… but on 9th March? Back to square one.
So, this year let’s make a vow to celebrate ‘Women’ every day and not just one day. Let’s celebrate the positive and vibrant energy that women have – Femininity.
Feminine features in nature include – Nurturing, Creative, Intuitive, Empathetic, Loving, Emotional, Collaborative, Free flowing, Receiving, and so on.
Society perceives feminine qualities as – Nurturing, Giving, bearing/Enduring, Surrender, Sacrifice, Being quiet, Sensitive, Tender, Multitasking, and many more. Through this perception of the society; comes, the expectations it has of women and the roles a woman is expected, prophesied, and preached, to play. We all have our parents, families, spouses, in-laws, kids, neighbors, relatives, and society as a whole directly or indirectly having us think and act a certain way.
Growing up and staying in such a society, women themselves have many such expectations. Having expectations from self and others is not bad in itself but soon such expectations turn to pressure and that is an issue.
However, the current expectations and roles a woman needs to play as a ‘Super Woman’ can be a source of pressure. This leads many women to find themselves in overwhelming situations; totally stressed and exhausted. A person in such a space is toxic not only for herself but also for the people around them.
The Super Woman Syndrome is making women take up more than they can handle – maybe they are forced to or by choice. The need to excel and go beyond in every role can become exhausting in the long run.
So, what can be done to ensure that we are able to manage feminine energy in a much better way? A compact 3 part process can help 1] Maintain Self 2] Manage the External World, and 3]Recharge Self.1] Maintaining self majorly involves managing our emotions. Be mindful, Use emotional RULER, introspect, and strategies.
Emotional RULER comes in handy to deal with overwhelming emotions. Mindfulness helps to identify emotional states and with practice, we are in a position to identify it before it escalates to do some damage. Self-regulation and modification help us choose our response rather than merely react like a puppet. Introspection of the causes of our overwhelming response to situations, like losing our top, shouting, fighting, crying etc. puts things in perspective.
Thus with a clear picture about the cause of a certain behavior, we don’t tend to beat ourselves unnecessarily (Why did I do this? Am I a bad person?). Strategizing for future situations in terms of what and how to avoid a difficult situation or a person, what response to choose, what options may be there; planning for how to stay in control (with positive and encouraging self-talk) in an unavoidable tough situation actually translates into managing ourselves better in those situations.
2] Managing the External world would involve anticipating and preparing to put the resources to apt use. Prioritise, Delegate, Avoid Over-commitment, and seek your support system. Review it regularly; as an illness at home or a deadline at work would change that. Delegate and outsource some tasks to save yourself from exhaustion.
Learn to tactfully say no to avoid Over-commitment and never underestimate your support system. Help your other female friends, relatives, and neighbors Your friends, family, and trusted neighbors can all come to your aid some or the other time, somehow.
3] Recharge Self with Self Car; which is like living beyond just managing and surviving in tough situations. Enriching and cherishing ourselves [not just externally], but our core, our inner child, our inner beauty, and our inner power is a duty we must fulfill for ourselves and for our loved ones. But nonjudgmental acceptance of our flaws helps us overcome them or minimize the damage they may cause us.
Seek a positive emotional balance sheet by interacting more and regularly with positive and encouraging people around you; share your dreams plans and joys with them.
Be assured that doing things for ourselves doesn’t make us selfish (if we balance it out); indulge yourself, regularly do things that relax you and fill you with joy. That’s like a good overall spa for our core.
Last but not the least self-growth and development has to have a place on our priority list. Learning a new skill fine-tuning an old one, increasing our knowledge, or improving our mental strength, we need to have an unapologetic intra-enrichment plan for ourselves.
Do remember to compliment yourself genuinely every day. Your value is much more than you (and sometimes people who take you for granted), think. Appreciate your inner beauty and cherish it. Stay connected to your core that’s what your real power is. .. BE!!
Happy Women [Every] Day!
Frequently Asked Questions for Women’s Day
1. What is International Women’s Day (IWD)?
International Women’s Day is a global observance that celebrates the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women while advocating for gender equality.
2. When is International Women’s Day celebrated?
International Women’s Day is celebrated on March 8th each year.
3. What is the history behind International Women’s Day?
International Women’s Day has its roots in the early 20th-century women’s rights movements and has since evolved into a day of global recognition and action.
4. What is the theme for International Women’s Day each year?
The theme for International Women’s Day varies from year to year, focusing on different aspects of women’s empowerment and gender equality.
5. How can I participate in International Women’s Day activities or events?
You can participate in various ways, such as attending events, supporting women-owned businesses, or getting involved in gender equality initiatives in your community.
6. What are some common activities or actions people take on International Women’s Day?
Common activities include organizing panel discussions, marches, workshops, and fundraising events to raise awareness of women’s issues.
7. What are the main goals of International Women’s Day?
The primary goals include promoting gender equality, celebrating women’s achievements, raising awareness about women’s issues, and advocating for women’s rights.
8. Is International Women’s Day celebrated only in certain countries?
No, International Women’s Day is celebrated globally, with events and initiatives taking place in nearly every country around the world.
9. How can individuals and organizations contribute to gender equality on International Women’s Day and beyond?
Individuals and organizations can contribute by supporting women’s rights, addressing gender bias, promoting diversity and inclusion, and advocating for policies that promote gender equality.
10. Are there any official symbols associated with International Women’s Day?
The purple ribbon is often used as a symbol of International Women’s Day, and the color purple represents dignity and justice, key principles of gender equality. Additionally, the hashtag #IWD and the logo with a Venus symbol are commonly used in social media and promotional materials.
