Women's History Month

Every March, we honor women with Women’s History Month. While this is a great way to celebrate their contributions to society and advocate for their equality, we should always celebrate and respect women. Women have been making history as long as human history has been around. Yet, they have not been given equal opportunities in the world and the gender gap still exists to this day.

One of the most common disparities discussed when talking about gender inequality is the wage gap. In 2020, women earned 81 cents for every $1 that a man-made when comparing the median salary of men and women. Other factors also come into play here, such as job title, years of experience, which industry they work in, and where they work in the United States. Data from PayScale.com notes that the wage gap narrowed to 98 cents for every $1 made by man, however those couple of cents in lost wages amount to $80,000 over a career. Not to mention, these numbers don’t even account for outside factors like race and education, which disproportionately affect Black, Latinx, and Indigenous women.

The first step to supporting women is to recognize gender inequality and its impacts. Women do so much and they don’t get enough credit for it. It goes beyond the wage gap to the general treatment of women in comparison to men. Women are underrepresented and excluded in many aspects of society. Find more information at Subtle Ways Men and Women are Treated Differently

So, what can we do?

1. Avoid stereotyping. Don’t say things such as: “Girls are so hormonal” because it creates unnecessary barriers between women and men

2. Reflect on your own bias. Stop thinking things such as: “Men are stronger than women” because women and men are just as competent as one another

3. Don’t shame women for their appearance

4. Stand up against harassment and make women feel safe

5. Be more inclusive and allow women to feel welcome; Don’t act superior

We need to appreciate women by letting them be who they want to be and do what they want to do instead of constantly degrading them simply for being a woman. We also need to uplift women. Without women, none of us would even be here. Let’s give credit where it's due and show women that they are supported.

The final thing we need to address is recognizing that trans women are women and they deserve to be treated as such. They face the same struggles as women, and unfortunately, they are subject to even more discrimination just for being transgender. We need to include them in our fight for gender equality by protecting and supporting them as fellow women.

Now, it’s time to take action. There are many things you can do to get involved, one of the best being to find organizations devoted to women's equality. Here are 10 listed below that you can join today and help empower women.

1) Global Fund for Women

Global Fund for Women is a non-profit foundation that has been around since 19787, funding women’s human rights initiatives. They use their powerful networks to amplify the courageous work of women who are building social movements and challenging the status quo.

2) National Organization for Women

National Organization for Women is a feminist organization founded in 1966. It is dedicated to its multi-issue and multi-strategy approach to women’s rights. It is also the largest organization of feminist grassroots activists in the United States that promotes feminist ideals, leads social change, and eliminates discrimination.

3) National Women's Law Center

National Women’s Law Center is a nonprofit, in D.C., that uses the legal system to tackle discrimination and injustice against women. Its current 100 Wins 100 Days campaign asks the Biden administration to prioritize political initiatives to protect women from the effects of the pandemic, from the Equality Act to protecting tipped workers.

4) Women for Women International

Women for Women International is a humanitarian group that provides moral support to women who are victims of war. They work in eight countries including Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and South Sudan. They aid women in conflict by providing skills, knowledge, and resources that create sustainable change for women, their families, and their communities.

5) INCITE

INCITE is a network of self-described radical feminists of color who work to end violence in our homes and communities as well as make change at the state level. They’ve created accessible activism toolkits to encourage mass organization against issues that disproportionately impact women of color, such as police brutality and gender violence.

6) Women's Prison Association

The Women's Prison Association’s goal is to keep women out of prison. They also support incarcerated women and help women who were previously incarcerated to build a new and better life for themselves. They find affordable housing, prepare these women for job interviews, locate mental health services when needed, and set them up with the essentials.

7) Dress for Success

Dress for Success helps women achieve economic independence by providing them with a support network, work attire, and other development tools that can assist them in their jobs.

8) She Should Run

She Should Run aims to get more women running for political office, due to the significant gender gap in politics. They offer online classes and leadership programs to equip women with the knowledge and skills needed to build a political platform for themselves.

9) Women's Refugee Commission

Since 1989, the Women’s Refugee Commission has tried to improve the lives and protect the rights of women, children, and youth displaced by conflict and crisis. They research their needs, identify solutions, and advocate for programs and policies to strengthen their resilience and drive change in humanitarian practice.

10) U.N. Women

Since 2011, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women has been working to tackle issues including gender disparity, violence against women, HIV/AIDS, and more.

These are just a few of the many organizations that exist to empower women. Make sure to show your support by getting involved.

We must continue to make progress, giving acknowledgment to women's accomplishments and challenges that are overlooked. I, personally, have faith in humanity to put aside our differences and come together as one humankind. We are much more than our genders and no matter how we identify we all deserve to be treated equally.

To my wonderful women, I want to leave you with one piece of advice: take back the power that you hold. We should be proud to be women because we are so incredible. Forget about the phrase, “man up!”. We need to WOMAN UP and show the world what it means to be a woman. To truly embrace your womanhood, join the #likeawomen movement. Running like a woman is powerful. Hitting like a woman is powerful. Dressing like a woman is powerful. We will no longer be defeated by the concept that women are less capable than men. Women are just as capable as anyone else, and we all know it. Like the infamous Beyonce said, “Girls run the world!”

- Anastasia Iosue