While we celebrate women every single day here at Forsyth Magazines, March 8th marks the official observance of International Women’s Day around the world!
Based on a shared purpose, trust, and appreciation for all, this initiative further supports so many areas of positive change for women of all ages. Locally, it’s a perfect day to shop at your favorite woman-owned business (and spread the word!), raise money and awareness for women-focused charities in your community, or even surprise your best girlfriend with a bouquet of flowers (think purples, greens, and whites, symbolic of International Women’s Day.) Lifting each other lifts all women in some way!
As a United Nations-sanctioned global holiday, International Women’s Day honors the social, economic, cultural, and political successes of women – and also reminds us to keep the momentum going all year long. While celebrating in a fashion that fits your lifestyle – attending a rally, hosting a speaker, celebrating a milestone achievement, or simply gathering with girlfriends for much-needed bonding time – women have the opportunity to join a global experience on March 8th that embraces women’s achievements in every aspect of life.
Founded in 1911, International Women’s Day belongs to all women, and reminds us to recognize and respect our differences as one of the most positive elements of life. The United Nations began celebrating it as an official holiday on March 8, 1975, and since that time, the holiday has grown in spirit across the globe as an inclusive, diverse, and eclectic celebration!
In 2001 the platform Internationalwomensday.com was launched with the specific purpose of re-energizing this special day. The website offers useful resources, and adopts an annual campaign theme to provide a tone for International Women’s Day activities. The 2023 campaign theme – #EmbraceEquity – is designed to encourage us all to challenge instances of gender stereotyping and discrimination. From the simplest grassroots efforts to a more world-wide focus, options are limitless, and working in large numbers always fosters success and camaraderie.
The International Women’s Day (IWD) website also highlights a list of their current preferred charities, and fundraising continues to open up more widely to other registered charities around the world. International Women’s Day will find groups gathering worldwide to celebrate, rally, lobby for accelerated gender parity, share information, and raise funds for a number of like-minded charities doing good works behind the scenes. While you’re browsing the site, you’ll also find a searchable database of IWD events, and a directory of women-owned businesses.
The city of Winston-Salem will honor International Women’s Day with its first International Women’s Parade on Saturday, March 11, 2023, starting at 1:00 p.m. Come make history with The Legacy Foundation, who will sponsor the event. The parade will begin at Broad & 4th Street, and travel – rain or shine – through downtown Winston-Salem. For more information on the International Women’s Parade visit Legacyfoundationforwomen.com.
For more history and information about International Women’s Day, visit internationalwomensday.com and follow @internationalwomensday_global on Instagram for updates and inspiration!