March 8th is International Women’s Day and though it has been celebrated internationally since 1911, it wasn’t until having my daughters that I started celebrating the day. I was already celebrating Taco Tuesday and National Doughnut Day, why the heck wasn’t I celebrating the ladies of the world?!
Maybe it was the political climate. Maybe it was having the overwhelming responsibility of raising my daughters, and now son, to be strong confident people who support and empower those around them. Whatever the reason, there are numerous ways to celebrate International Women’s Day — get the whole family involved and celebrate all the lovely ladies in your life!
#ChooseToChallenge
International Women’s Day 2021’s campaign is — Choose to Challenge.
“A challenged world is an alert world. And from challenge comes change. So let’s all #ChooseToChallenge.” ~ International Women’s Day website, 2021
Check out the multitude of resources provided by the International Women’s Day website. There are selfie cards, tips to delivering an impactful speech, read statements from worldwide business leaders, AND SO MUCH MORE!
Locally, we’d like to encourage you to tune into the 2021 Virtual Omaha Women’s Day March going on March 7th – March 21st. Aside from the most adorable merchandise, there are some amazing speakers and virtual events planned all month long!
Follow us on Instagram @omaha.mom as we shine our spotlight on the local Women Who Wow. We are highlighting some Fierce Females across the Omaha area who have been nominated by their peers for their work in Community Engagement, Business, and Healthcare. If you’d like to nominate a Woman Who Wows, tag them below or email us [email protected].
Check out our pre-made posters and coloring sheets below! Print them out, hang them up, and celebrate Women’s Day all month long!
Other ways to entertain the entire family in Women’s Day::
What a fortunate time to be alive and have access to so many amazing books, movies, and TV Shows written, illustrated, and published by and about women. Damsels in distress no more! Below is a list of Books, Movies and TV shows with strong female characters. We’ve tried to highlight the women behind the scenes, as well.
Read a Book
We recommend checking out any of these titles from your local Public Library, or find amazing independent book stores at IndieBound.org
- Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls by Elena Favilli and Francesca Cavallo, Timbuktu Labs, 2016
- Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls 2 by Elena Favilli and Francesca Cavallo, Timbuktu Labs, 2017
- Rad American Women A-Z written by Kate Schatz, Illustrated by Miriam Klein Stahl, City Lights Books, 2015
- She Persisted written by Chelsea Clinton, Illustrated by Alexandra Boiger, Philomel Books, 2017
- Women in Science- 50 Fearless Pioneers Who Changed the World by Rachel Ignotofsky, Ten Speed Press, 2016
- The Paper Bag Princess Written by Robert Munsch, Illustrated by Michael Martchenko, Annick Press Ltd, 1980
- Princess Smartypants by Babette Cole, G.P. Putnam Sons New York, 1986
- Beautiful Written by Stacy McAnulty, Illustrated by Joanne Lew-Vriethoff, Scholastic Inc, 2016
- Eloise Written by Kay Thompson, Illustrated by Hilary Knight, Simon & Schuster, 1983
- 6 Chelsea Walk Series by Adele Geras, Ann Turnbull, and Linda Newbery, Usborne, 2019
- What Does a Princess Really Look Like? by Mark Loewen, Illustrated by Ed Pokoj, BDQ Publishing, 2018
- Kamala and Maya’s Big Idea by Meena Harris, illustrated by Ana Ramírez González, Balzar + Bray, 2020
- Change Sings: A Children’s Anthem by Amanda Gorman, Illustrated by Loren Long, Viking Books, Coming 2021
Watch a Movie
- Wonder Woman PG-13 (2017) Directed by Patty Jenkins
- Erin Brockovich R (2000)
- Fried Green Tomatoes PG-13 (1991)
- Moana PG (2016)
- Hidden Figures PG (2016)
- A League of Their Own PG (1992) Directed by Penny Marshall
- RBG PG (2018) Documentary about Ruth Bader Ginsberg Directed by Julie Cohen and Betsy West
- Lady Bird R (2017) Directed by Greta Gerwig
- Hunger Games Trilogy PG-13 (2012)
- Ghostbusters PG-13 (2016)
- On the Basis of Sex PG-13 (2018) Directed by Mimi Leder
- Frozen II PG (2019) Directed by Jennifer Lee
- Trolls World Tour PG (2020)
- Godmothered PG (2020) Directed by Sharon Maguire
- Legally Blonde PG-13 (2001)
- Legally Blonde-Red, White and Blonde PG-13 (2003)
- Miss Congeniality PG-13 (2003)
- Star Wars: The Force Awakens PG-13 (2015)
- Clueless PG-13 (1995) Directed by Amy Heckerlin
- The Color Purple PG-13 (1985)
- Zero Dark Thirty R (2012) Directed by Kathryn Bigelow
- The Help PG-13 (2011)
- Enola Holmes PG-13 (2020)
TV Shows
- Marvelous Mrs. Maisel TV-MA Created by Amy Sherman-Palladino
- The Mindy Project TV-14 Created by Mindy Kaling
- 30 Rock TV-14 Created by Tina Fey
- Parks and Recreation PG-14
- The Crown TV-MA
- Grace and Frankie TV-MA Created by Marta Kauffman
- Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt TV-14 Created by Tiny Fey
- Veep TV-MA
- The Mary Tyler Moore Show TV-PG
- Ugly Betty TV-PG
- The Queens Gambit TV-MA
- Call the Midwife TV-PG
- Grey’s Anatomy TV-14
- Doc McStuffins G
- Spirit Riding Free TV-Y7
- Magic School Bus Rides Again TV-Y
- Anne TV PG
Feminism is the theory of political, economic, and social equality of the sexes.
Somewhere between the Women’s Suffrage Movement of 1920, the Women’s Movement in the 1960’s and 1970’s, and today’s #MeToo awareness the term feminism has gotten a negative connotation. Being a feminist does not mean you are a bra-burning, non-shaving, man-hater; but someone who supports women AND men, wants equal and balanced opportunities for everybody, and for people to feel and be safe in any and all situations.
We are still fighting for the Equal Rights Amendment, something we’ve been fighting for since women got the right to vote! International Women’s Day is more than just one day — it’s the momentum we need to continue fighting for equality — Equality within our genders, within our races, within our communities. We Choose To Challenge so our girls AND boys can grow up in a world full of love, generosity, inclusion, and equality.