August 26th is National Women’s Equality Day; a day to acknowledge how far women have come on their journey toward equality and how much more work is still to be done. While the greatest gender gaps are found primarily in the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia, according to the World Economic Forum, there are still areas of inequality women in this country feel they face on a daily basis. One way women can spread awareness and get more involved in the fight is to take part in National Women’s Equality Day.
Here are some ideas on how you can participate and celebrate this meaningful day:
Volunteer
The National Women’s History Alliance offers resources that can be downloaded and shared with others. You may want to print and share brochures with your local library, schools, and places of worship.
If you are a teacher or community leader, you may also want to consider making history come alive with a special presentation or performance.
Join
Consider joining the Women’s History Alliance so you can stay involved and participate in ways that bring meaning and change to everyone you interact with.
Commit
Taking on such a big fight as women’s equality is a challenge and one that requires every woman to commit to self-care. Much like pre-flight, parents are instructed to put on their oxygen masks before attending to their children, women must ensure their own well-being so they have the strength to fight the good fight.
Sadly, studies from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have found that women are more likely to experience mental health challenges such as depression and anxiety. Luckily, women are also far more prone to ask for help in dealing with whatever is troubling them. And often what is troubling them is feeling they are living in an unfair world, where the genders are still not totally equal.
If you feel depression or anxiety in relation to gender discrepancies in your own life and would like to explore treatment options, please get in touch with me. I would be more than happy to discuss how I may be able to help.
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